Warning about Mulch

[kellysmith1976]

Just had this sent to me, and i thought i better put it on here!

Please tell every dog or cat owner you know. Even if you don't have a pet, please pass this to those who do.


Over the weekend the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. They loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden. Their dog Calypso decided that the mulch smelled good enough to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new but wasn't acting lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk . Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly.

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the company's website, this product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs and cats.

Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey's, and they claim that 'It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual dog). However, 98% of all dogs won't eat it.'

This Snopes site gives the following information:http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and other Garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called ' Theobromine'. It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks. Theobromine is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker's chocolate which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of th eobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine

[FoxyMumma]

I posted this up months ago and was told its old and everyone knew.... I didnt

Its a useful warning I.M.O

[tokay]

Indeed VERY usefull first ive heard about this mulch stuff

[kellysmith1976]

oh ok ... I only just got it sent me.... !.. But i never knew anything about it!

[FoxyMumma]

Originally Posted by kellysmith1976

oh ok ... I only just got it sent me.... !.. But i never knew anything about it!

yeah not really something that you think about TBH, If I had read that it contained actual cocoa Id have not used it obviously but some bags dont actually stipulate that its actual cocoa in it, bit naughty really

[brella-owul]

Definately worth posting. They say 98% of dogs wont eat it... but it's no surprise that its a lab that did and sadly died - labs will eat ANYTHING !

[tokay]

well i know for sure that my boxer would eat it , he will eat anything!

[FoxyMumma]

that goes for my rotweiller too

[freekygeeky]

eek didnt know that,
its scary that this is the sort of stuff we use for geckos though?

[FoxyMumma]

Originally Posted by freekygeeky

eek didnt know that,
its scary that this is the sort of stuff we use for geckos though?

hmmm im not 100% sure its the same stuff ?? or is it... I thought it was coco husk... as in coconut? be interesting to find out as i have that in me bleddy livingroom!!!