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unicornleather
20th Nov 2008, 12:51 PM
Please read this if you own a dog or a cat

This message has been sent in by one of our members and originates from Ali Taylor, Head of Welfare, Battersea Dogs Home.
Quote:
Yesterday one of our dog agility friends experienced a tragedy and wanted me to pass a special message along to all of my dog loving friends and family. Please tell every dog owner you know.
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, Mum 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.'
Also included was the following information -
Quote:
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. Just a word of caution, check what you are using in your gardens and be aware of what your gardeners are using in your gardens.
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.

Oz

MrKia+Me
20th Nov 2008, 12:59 PM
OMG!!!!:eek: How terrible!!!:eek::mad:

Poor doggie!!! RIP Pup!!!

Just goes to show what people will market these days!!! Should be done!!!!:mad:

Nikki xxxx

Wally
20th Nov 2008, 01:00 PM
'Theobromine'.

This is the toxic element in chocolate which is no good for dogs at all.

Thanks for the heads up on that one.

popdog
20th Nov 2008, 02:42 PM
There are many versions of this story, it has been around for some years. Always a little bit different but usually with a dog called Calypso.

It is true that eating cocoa mulch could kill a dog so it's a valid warning to all pet owners, but this story itself is not true and no doggy has died thank goodness.

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp

unicornleather
20th Nov 2008, 05:32 PM
Yes, this is an old post so I have been told but like some of the others I hadn't seen it and I am sure there are alot of others that haven't seen it either, better to be safe than sorry. I think it is on the label of the product now but again, not everyone thinks to read it!
Oz

Wally
20th Nov 2008, 05:38 PM
Those lillies are toxic to cats too, the stargazer ones, the pollen kills them apparently. Shame really as I live the smell, but my Dad would kill me if anything happened to Ambrose!