The following information I received from a friend has been

verified by someone with the Animal Humane Society:

"Cocoa Mulch which is sold by Home Depot, Foremans Garden Supply and other Garden Supply Stores, contains an ingredient called "theobromine" which is LETHAL to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths have occurred in the last 2-3 weeks." Just a word of caution - - check what you are using in your gardens, what your apartment complex uses, and what the city or county parks that you frequent use.

Please pass this warning on to other dog and cat owners.

Geraldine M. Brehm, President Peninsula Animal Welfare Society, Inc. (P.A.W.S.) This was the verification I received?

I checked with our Companion Animals department and it looks like this is true. You can go ahead and spread the word! Here is what they said:

Yes. Cocoa bean shells are used to make mulch, which are a byproduct of the chocolate industry. It all contains Theobromine which is toxic to dogs and I believe cats. The mulch does have a sweet chocolaty smell. We suggest writing letters to cocoa mulch manufacturers to see if they would put warning labels on the bags.

-- Anonymous, August 08, 2001

Answers

The local gardening talk radio host doesn't like cocoa mulch either. I think he said it's prone to developing fungus.

-- Anonymous, August 08, 2001

That would be one way tocontrol the feral cat population, though. Horribly mean, but effective. I can just imagine the smell.

I don't suppose it would affect rodents?

-- Anonymous, August 08, 2001

Are they sure it's cocoa and not coco? I do know coconut fibers (coir) have been promoted heavily for yard use over the past few years; hadn't heard about the cocoa hulls. Definitely worth checking further.

-- Anonymous, August 08, 2001

No, it's the by-product from the chocolate industry. Cute little shell shaped stuff that's very delicate and attractive-looking. Great for fussy gardens where coarse bark mulch just won't do. (So I use slimy grass clippings instead.)

-- Anonymous, August 08, 2001

Oh, okay, haven't seen it around here. If I do I shall mention it to the store manager. My pet peeve, dangerous or not, is that stinking dyed mulch, you know looks like a badly-dyed red hair job.

-- Anonymous, August 08, 2001

More on theobromine--and other stuff:

POISONOUS ITEMS TO DOGS

Chocolate-Tea-Coffee-Cola

It is not chocolate itself that is poisonous to dogs, it is the theobromine, a naturally occurring compound found in chocolate, tea, coffee and cola. Theobromine causes different reactions in different dogs: dogs with health problems, especially epilepsy, are more affected by theobromine than healthy dogs. Theobromine can trigger epileptic seizures in dogs prone to, or at risk of epilepsy. The size of the dog will also be a major factor: the smaller the dog, the more affected it is by the same amount, than a larger dog. Therefore, toxicity is described on a mg/Kg basis.

Furthermore, theobromine can cause cardiac irregularity, especially if the dog becomes excited. Cardiac arythmia can precipitate a myocardial infarct, which can kill the dog! Theobromine also irritates the GI tract and in some dogs can cause internal bleeding, which in some cases, kills them a day or so later.

Theobromine is also present in differing amounts in different kinds of chocolate. Milk chocolate has 44-66 mg/oz, dark chocolate 450 mg/oz and baking/bitter chocolate, or cocoa powder, varies as much as 150-600 mg/oz. How much chocolate a dog can survive, depends on its weight and other known circumstances. Under 200 mg theobromine per kg body weight, no deaths have been observed.

Theobromine will stay in the bloodstream for between 14 and 20 hours. It goes back into the bloodstream through the stomach lining and takes a long time for the liver to filter out.

Within two hours of ingestion, try inducing vomiting, unless your dog is markedly stimulated, comatose, or has lost the 'gag' reflex. If your dog has eaten a considerable amount of chocolate, or displays any of the above symptoms, TAKE IT TO THE VET WITHOUT DELAY!

In the absence of major symptoms, administer activated charcoal. The unabsorbed theobromine will chemically bond to this and be eliminated in the faeces. At a pinch, burnt toast, as in thoroughly burnt, crumbling in the hand, will do.

Here is some more info for the 'Poisonous Items To Dogs' article.

Nuts

Walnuts are poisonous to dogs and should be avoided. In particular, there is a type of fungus common to walnuts, especially wet, deadfall nuts, that will cause severe episodes of seizuring. Many nuts are not good for dogs in general, their high phosphorous content is said to possibly lead to bladder stones.

Miscellaneous

Onions, especially raw onions, have been shown to trigger haemolytic anaemia in dogs. Ref: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine Vol. 2pg By: Stephen J. Ettinger D.V.M. & Edward C. Fieldman D.V.M.

Also: Six Cases of Heinz Body Haemolytic Anaemia Induced By Onion and/or Garlic Ingestion. By: C.M. Edwards & C.J. Belford, Aust.Vet. Prac. 26 (1) March 1996, 18-22

Potato poisonings among people and dogs have occurred. Solanum alkaloids can be found in green sprouts and green potato skins, which occurs when the tubers are exposed to sunlight during growth, or after harvest. The relatively rare occurrence of actual poisoning, is due to several factors: Solanine is poorly absorbed. It is mostly hydrolysed into less toxic solanidenel. The metabolites are quickly eliminated.

Note that cooked, mashed potatoes are fine for dogs and are actually quite nutritious and digestible.

Turkey skin is currently thought to cause acute pancreatis in dogs.

-- Anonymous, August 08, 2001

I never really cared for that red mulch either.

Thanks for that article, I shared it with a few other pet owners I know.

-- Anonymous, August 09, 2001

I assume by "red mulch" you mean hemlock? The "brown mulch" is pine tree. From a landscaping standpoint, hemlock is better to work with, drainage is better somehow, and it holds up longer in the season. I prefer the brown mulch just because the red is too unnaturally orange to me. I'm not aware that any of it is dyed.

-- Anonymous, August 09, 2001

No, not hemlock. They dye the mulch [content unknown, maybe pine?] with iron-oxide or something. Truly dreadful, and hard to keep off your hands when working with it. Also, when it gets wet, it has been known to stain certain concrete surfaces.

-- Anonymous, August 09, 2001

Barefoot, while I was surfing around for info I saw where cats are repelled by this mulch. Dogs ain't so smart!

-- Anonymous, August 09, 2001