Cocoa Mulch WARNING

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 past few months. A word of caution – check what you are using in your gardens and be aware of what your gardeners are using as well. Theobromine is the ingredient that is used to make all chocolate – especially dark or baker’s chocolate, which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cocoa bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cocoa bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine. Stay alert to chemicals that can be deadly to your pets and alert your neighborhood, friends, nurseries and local newpapers of these dangers. Hopefully this warning will be publicized and the retailers will post signs that these products contain ingredients deadly to pets. If not, at least we can do our part to inform pet owners.