Dog Owners Beware: Cocoa Bean Mulch Poses Threat To Pets
As people begin to tend to their gardens this spring, some will consider using cocoa bean mulch as a fertilizer.
Made from spent cocoa beans used in chocolate production, the mulch is organic, deters slugs and snails, and
gives off an appealing chocolate scent. However, it also attracts dogs, who can be poisoned by eating the mulch.
Cocoa beans contain the stimulants caffeine and theobromine, and dogs are highly sensitive to these chemicals. Low
doses can cause mild gastrointestinal upset; higher doses can cause rapid heart rate, muscle tremors, seizures and
even death. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center recommends pet owners avoid using this mulch around unsupervised
dogs, and dogs with indiscriminate eating habits.
(Reprinted with permission from the ASPCA)
