Cocoa Mulch Can Be Toxic to Pets

With spring right around the corner, I'm sure many of us will be working in our gardens and landscaping our yards, which also serve as play areas for our cats and dogs. 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 attracts dogs. If they ingest this, they may die. 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 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.

(The photo above is only ONE BRAND of cocoa mulch. The danger is not isolated to this brand alone.)