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Post by Patrick on Feb 26, 2009 16:44:58 GMT
I know some gardeners are vehemently anti cat - going to all sorts of lengths to deter them from their garden - I just hope that any of them resort to using this stuff. Anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows not to feed chocolate to their dog (though many do) - Cats can suffer as well. Now apparently Garden Centres are selling this stuff: COCOA MULCH
Chocolate contains Theobromine, which many animals are unable to metabolise properly. It can cause death if consumed in high enough doses. The actual amount of Theobromine that can be fatal depends on the amount consumed and the animal’s size. Baking and dark chocolate are the most dangerous forms. Symptoms include vomiting, excitability, muscle tremors, excessive urination, seizures and coma. Cocoa Mulch, manufactured by Hersheys and found in garden supply stores, is a product designed to keep cats away from your garden. Unfortunately this mulch smells good enough to eat and contains Theobromine. This is highly toxic to dogs and cats. One can only wonder at how this got past the various regulatory checks.
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Post by Big Lin on Feb 26, 2009 18:19:20 GMT
I understand not everyone loves cats as much as I do.
Having one of my own is enough of a deterrent to the other moggies on the block as Sandy guards his territory fiercely!
Seriously, though, I know there are various devices to keep animals out of your garden but surely running the risk of killing or making the cat seriously ill is over the top?
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Post by Alpha Hooligan on Feb 26, 2009 21:36:57 GMT
Where are the mighty RSPCA in all this? Probably having some poor old woman arrested for having too many cats that she can't take care of. AH
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Post by drewsmom595 on Feb 26, 2009 22:01:11 GMT
This is more of an issue for dogs, than for cats. Dogs eat pretty much anything...cats are more discriminating. There is truth to what Patrick says...cocoa mulch can be fatal, but a 50 pound dog would have to eat at least 9 ounches of it Here's what consumeraffairs.com says:
Internet Rumor Claims Cocoa Mulch Causes Dog Deaths ASPCA says mulch can be dangerous, but not fatal
By Lisa Wade McCormick ConsumerAffairs.com
October 14, 2008
• •An e-mail circulating through cyberspace warns pet owners not to use cocoa mulch because it can cause serious health problems--or even death--in dogs. But is the message true? Or is it an Internet hoax?
ConsumerAffairs.com, which received a copy of the e-mail, learned pet owners should heed this warning. That's because cocoa mulch contains a compound called theobromine. This naturally occurring compound--found in many plants, including cocoa beans--can be harmful to dogs.
"Cocoa bean shell mulch can result in adverse reactions in dogs," said Dr. Steven Hansen, veterinary toxicologist and senior vice-president of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal's (ASPCA) Midwest Office. That office houses the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center.
Dr. Hansen said many dogs are attracted to the smell of cocoa mulch.
"Some dogs will eat large amounts of fresh mulch, which can lead to intestinal upset and if the amount is high enough increased heart rates and trembling," he told ConsumerAffairs.com.
But he added: "Death is very unlikely with current products as the residual theobromine is very low."
A few years ago, the ASPCA investigated several cases in which dogs ingested cocoa mulch. The organization studied those cases in response to the growing number of reports about dogs eating that type of mulch.
The ASPCA's study revealed:
• Vomiting was reported in 50 percent of the cases;
• Tremors were reported in 33 percent of the cases. In these cases, the amount of cocoa mulch ingested by the dogs was described as "large or significant;"
• Tachycardia (rapid heart rate), hyperactivity, or diarrhea were reported in 17 percent of the cases;
• High amounts of cocoa mulch can cause tachycardia, muscle tremors, seizures, and even death. One dog died after eating a large amount of cocoa bean shell mulch that contained 0.46% theobromine;
• There were no clinical signs of illness in 33 percent of the cases;
• 67 percent of the cases came from dogs in California.
"Pet owners should avoid (the) use of cocoa bean mulch in landscaping around dogs with indiscriminate eating habits," the ASPCA said when it released its Cocoa Mulch Report.
Some companies that make cocoa mulch warn pet owners about using the product around dogs.
The maker of Blommer's Cocoa Shell Mulch, for example, has a warning on that package that states: "Note: contains trace amounts of theobromine, a compound that dogs can be allergic to, so use caution when using around dogs."
But not all cocoa mulch products carry that warning, according to the latest e-mail about this problem.
That e-mail describes how a dog named Calypso ate a large amount of cocoa mulch--because it smelled so good—and then became gravely ill.
"She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new, but wasn't acting lethargic in any way," the e-mail states. "The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk. Half way through the walk, Calypso had a seizure and died instantly."
The e-mail adds: "Although the mulch had no warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the company's Web site, this product is highly toxic to dogs and cats. We are passing this on not to scare you but to make you aware of a commonly purchased item that may have a potentially fatal effect on your pets."
The e-mail is signed: "Your Family at Deepwood Veterinary Clinic."
ConsumerAffairs.com tried to contact that clinic, but it did not respond to our inquiry.
Veterinarians, however, aren't the only ones warning pet owners about products that contain theobromine.
The Hershey's company--the largest maker of chocolate and sugar candies in North America--also cautions pet owners about that compound.
"Dogs metabolize theobromine very slowly," the company states on its Web site. "As a result, theobromine can have a serious effect on the animal's heart, kidneys and central nervous system. It carries the same risk as does a dog's consumption of other common household items such as coffee, tea, cola beverages and certain houseplants."
Meanwhile, experts say other types of mulch--including cedar chips and straw--are less toxic than cocoa mulch. But some may contain oil and resins that can cause gastrointestinal problems in their pets.
Consumers who suspect their pets have eaten these or other toxic products should contact their veterinarians or the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.
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Post by ♫anna♫ on Feb 27, 2009 6:27:54 GMT
It's really sickening how malevolent people can be! There was case in Germany about a sicko, who poisoned his neighbor's frog pond! I tried to google up some info and found this disgusting thread.. www.ebuild.co.uk/forums/messages/1/803.htmlI love frogs and toads and animals in general! I really lose my faith in humanity when i hear about stuff like this!
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Post by Patrick on Feb 28, 2009 13:35:52 GMT
I shall keep an eye on it - but I picked up the info from a newsletter on my local vet's webpage. I'd presume they would have also have looked into it further rather than just posting something they might have received in a mailshot or magazine. When I first read it I thought - Hang on - Cats aren't really into chocolate anyway!
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Post by riotgrrl on Mar 7, 2009 11:55:15 GMT
I can understand the frustration of gardeners. I used to have a house with a garden, and for some reason all the local cats decided my garden was their toilet. My daughters were pre-school at the time, and the point of the garden was that it was supposed to be somewhere they could safely play. I didn't particularly enjoy having to go round picking up cat shit on a daily basis.
I used to buy some chemical thing that you put all round the garden which put them off, and I swear that there were crowds of cats sitting round the garden gazing in, desperate to do a jobby and unable to believe that some chemical force was keeping them away from their favoured toilet.
Unfortunately the chemical thing was quite expensive and I couldn't afford to use it regularly, so I tried stuff like orange peel which is supposed to ahve the same effect, but didn't.
By the time I sold that house I would quite cheerfully have put down deadly poison for those cats.
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Post by Patrick on Mar 7, 2009 12:58:49 GMT
I hear Lion's wee is a good deterrent! - Or just get a lion! Or elephant's poo! makes a good manure too! ;D
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Post by chefmate on Mar 7, 2009 13:26:02 GMT
I can understand the frustration of gardeners. I used to have a house with a garden, and for some reason all the local cats decided my garden was their toilet. My daughters were pre-school at the time, and the point of the garden was that it was supposed to be somewhere they could safely play. I didn't particularly enjoy having to go round picking up cat shit on a daily basis. I used to buy some chemical thing that you put all round the garden which put them off, and I swear that there were crowds of cats sitting round the garden gazing in, desperate to do a jobby and unable to believe that some chemical force was keeping them away from their favoured toilet. Unfortunately the chemical thing was quite expensive and I couldn't afford to use it regularly, so I tried stuff like orange peel which is supposed to ahve the same effect, but didn't. By the time I sold that house I would quite cheerfully have put down deadly poison for those cats. Why should we have to put up with our neighbor's cat shit in our gardens? If you love your cat, keep the damn thing at home or be prepared that someone may not love your pet and take measures to insure the darn thing isn't fouling our property.
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