[ SHOWGSD-L ] cocoa mulch.......a warning

From: "Peggy" <pmick12@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:05:06 -0400
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp

Verified by snopes.com (link is above)


  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, 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.

  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.'

  True information about the mulch can be found here - 
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoa.htm
  This site gives the following information: Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by 
Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and other Garden supply stores, contains 
a let h al 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. Seve ral 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.

  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 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.  Please email the manufacturer at 
michellemessick@xxxxxxxxxxxx and request that accurate information about 
this product be posted on the packaging to avoid further tragedy.

  PLEASE GIVE THIS THE WIDEST DISTRIBUTION.




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[ SHOWGSD-L ] cocoa mulch.......a warning

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