A lot of people start planting their gardens during Spring, and there’s a certain kind of mulch that can potentially harm their pets. Cocoa mulch is gaining popularity and can be very bad for dogs and other pets who try to eat it.
This mulch is made out of cocoa bean shells, which contain Theobromine. As mentioned in a previous post, Theobromine is very poisonous to dogs and cats. Some cocoa mulch companies have managed to get most of the Theobromine out of their mulch, but there are still others who don’t do that kind fo filtering.
The mulches are popular for their color and scent, unfortunately, that scent is also appealing to some pets. If a dog eats enough of the unfiltered cocoa mulch, it will get sick and can possibly die. Small amounts of Theobromine will cause vomiting and minor illness, but if your yard is covered in the stuff, there’s a good chance a large amount can be eaten by your pets.
There are plenty of other mulches to choose from, and if you really need to have the cocoa mulch, just make sure it’s one that has gotten rid of most of the Theobromine.
The unfiltered cocoa mulch is so bad for pets that some lawmakers are trying to get bills passed that require people to put up signs in their yards warning against the presense of the cocoa mulch. While owners should always try to be aware of what their dogs are eating, it’s not always possible to do so.
Signs would be helpful to owners who are walking their dogs, but realistically, this mulch seems to do more harm than good and should be avoided if at all possible.
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