Cocoa Bean Mulch As A Cause Of Methylxanthine Toxicosis In Dogs
by S. Hansen, H. Trammell, E. Dunayer, S. Gwaltney, D. Farbman, and S. Khan
Source: www.aspca.org
Background: Cocoa bean shells, a by-product of chocolate production, are sold as mulch for landscaping. Homeowners find cocoa mulch desirable because it degrades into an organic fertilizer and provides an attractive color and odor. Unprocessed beans, derived from the Theobroma cacao plant, contain 1-4% theobromine/0.07-0.36% caffeine whereas, cocoa bean mulch contains 0.19%-2.98% theobromine. Some dogs find the mulch attractive and eat small to large quantities.
- Cocoa bean shell products are increasingly used as mulch
- Natural cacao beans are derived from Theobroma cacao
- Unprocessed beans contain 1-4% theobromine and 0.07-0.36% caffeine
- Cocoa bean shell mulch may contain up to 0.19%-2.98% theobromineCocoa bean shells are a by-product of chocolate production
- Cocoa bean shell mulch products have an attractive odor and smell
- Some dogs will eagerly eat large amounts of cocoa bean shell mulch
[b:14g2ngfw]Treatment of Clinical Signs Resulting from Methylxantine
Toxicosis in Dogs
Excellent post!! I actually used to use cocoa mulch in my front gardens when I lived in Calif, but my dogs were never out there. I remember reading an article online way back then, stressing it's dangers..No wonder, the stuff smells fantastic & it's also a great weed deterrent..
This is a very real concern; many pets have died from ingesting this product.
Hubby and I actually just got back from spreading this mulch on our front landscaping. The girls aren't allowed out there unsupervised (well, actually, they're not allowed out anywhere unsupervised), so there is no chance that they could ingest any of it. We purposely skipped putting this in the back because of the warnings, which are also printed on the bags.
The brand that we used is made by Hersheys! :lol: I do have to give them props for using their left over cocoa bean hulls to make mulch. It's a much less wasteful option than simply throwing it away, IMO!
It's amazing how this stuff really does smell like chocolate. It has given me the most horrible craving for a candy bar now! :lol:
As most Boxer owners know,our fur babies love eating most anyth they can put in the mouth. That’s was the case with my boy Henry. He is 3 1/2yrs old and some where got a hospital footy sock. Long and short, he was caught throwing it up before he could re-swallow it.
He continued to have a few...
My vet okay'd me on trying tagamet and benadryl. (my poor baby has 3 masses, two of which she has acquired in the past 5 days!) She said it was worth a shot.
has anyone tried this? Does it work? I've searched the internet for acutal picture proof and haven't found too much. I'm just curious!
I haven't seen any decisions on here about covid,
I was just curious if we have to be just a cautious about covid 19 with our pets as we do ourselves and if so...
What is everyone doing?
Hello. I am new to this forum. I have a Brindle Boxer who is nearly 3 years old. We recently noticed the formation of dry skin and what we would called scabbing on his belly. These do not appear to be traditional scabs that result from an open wound, instead they appear to be a collection of dry...
Hello everyone, my dog Grace has been getting these pimples for about a year now some months were better than others but quite frankly they just won’t go away.
The only time it cleared up completely is when my vet gave her prednisone which is an antibiotic. Obviously she can’t be on that...
A forum community dedicated to Boxer owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeds, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!
