Warning - Cocoa Mulch

life_in_termoil

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. The dogs loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden. Their dog (Calypso) decided 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. Halfway 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 web site,

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."
*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 theobromine, 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.

earthlysparky

This seems to have been doing the rounds for the last four or five years. I'm not disputing the original event, but have to wonder if the product still poses such a high risk?

Actually, having followed your Snopes link, this story has been doing the rounds since 2003.

life_in_termoil

I received the email today just thought I would pass it on. I have seen cocoa mulch for sale in various places here in the UK so thought I would pass it on (just in case)

cootambear

1 proven case.

As cats are not daft enough to gorge themselves on something they don`t like the taste or smell of, I wonder if sprinkling this around the garden is the manna that those plagued with cat !!!! (and havent go a dog of their own), have been waiting for (or maybe just another weapon in the arsenal)?

earthlysparky

Apparently the smell (and any risk to animals) only lasts for two weeks.

3v3

life_in_termoil wrote: »

I received the email today just thought I would pass it on. I have seen cocoa mulch for sale in various places here in the UK so thought I would pass it on (just in case)

The original post is very USA based; please can you confirm which brand this applies to (Hershey is US brand, not UK) and which places sell the Hershey brand of mulch in the UK?

TIA

(Hershey chocolate is vile! No wonder their mulch is toxic!)

earthlysparky

in addition to the snopes stuff, there is also this http://www.brighthub.com/society/cultures-customs/articles/67592.aspx which provides a rather good debunking of the story.

In short: yes, pets could become ill if they eat a lot of this mulch, just like they could become ill from eating chocolate. But it's a) unlikely, b) they'd have to eat a lot and c) what kind of responsible pet owner would let their dog gorge themselves on it?
Oh, and it is possible that one dog may have died, but even that is not actually confirmed.

life_in_termoil

Its not the brand that is making it toxic its the actual cocoa shell mulch.
Not seen Hersheys brand over here but have seen other brands eg J. Arthur Bowers

I wasnt suggesting for 1 minute not to buy it I was just airing caution.

Maybe it could be a new sideline for Cadburys