dog club

The local club for Lochaber & District

Danger - Cocoa Mulch (posted March 2009)

Please tell every dog or cat owner you know.
Even if you don't have a pet, please pass this to those who do. 
 
Over the weekend the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. They loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden. Their dog Calypso decided that the mulch smelled good enough to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new but wasn't acting lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk . Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly. 
 
Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the company's website, this product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs and cats. 
 
Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey's, and they claim that:
'It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual dog). However, 98% of all dogs won't eat it.' 
 
This Snopes site gives the following information:
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp 
 
Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and other Garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called ' Theobromine'. It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks. Theobromine is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker's chocolate which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine. 
 
   
PLEASE GIVE THIS THE WIDEST DISTRIBUTION!!!

Health & Hygiene - Important points to remember

Vaccinations
Puppies should have had at least 2 injections by the time they are 12 weeks old, followed by a booster once a year.
Note: Kennel Cough vaccinations are advisable if the dog is going to a lot of shows or into kennels, in fact some kennels insist on this.

Infectious Conditions
If your dog has any infectious conditions (or has been in contact with a dog with an infectious condition, e.g. kennel cough - see above) it must NOT attend the Club for 3 weeks. Please ask any trainer for guidance.

Worming
Puppies should be wormed once a month, until 6 months old, for roundworm which ALL puppies get from their mothers. Thereafter, they should be wormed 2 or 3 times a year with a reliable multi-wormer which you can get from your vet.

Fleas, Ticks, etc
Ticks, especially, are a nuisance in this area. Your vet has various preparations that are effective.

Keeping the hall and surrounding area clean
If your dog is properly wormed their is minimum health risk, but nobody likes dog mess on their shoes, pram wheels, etc. So please clean up after your dog. A plastic bag is easy to keep in your pocket to remove accidents.

Bitches in season should not attend the club!
Please remember to miss 3 Tuesdays so that there will be no upset to male dogs and their owners.

Do's and Don'ts of visiting the Vet

  • DO make an appointment - no point in turning up with no vet available, or maybe worse, a harassed vet in the middle of something else!
  • DO use a good collar and lead so that you have control of your dog.
  • DO know your dog’s signs and symptoms if it isn’t well - f or instance, is it eating - drinking - being sick - coughing etc?
  • DO follow the vet’s instructions - they are always given for a good reason.
  • DO keep your children under control as well as your dog!  Remember that stressed dogs may not appreciate being hugged by strange children.
  • DON’T let your dog off the lead in the waiting room - the next time the door opens he’ll be off like a shot!
  • DON’T send someone with the dog who knows nothing about it - it makes the vet’s job much harder.
  • DON’T leave a problem for long before consulting the vet. The sooner a condition is treated the better; don’t leave it till it is too late.
  • DON'T ask other folk about their animals while you are waiting. They may be upset about their visit and you could make them feel worse - just stop and think first.

Local Vet: C. Evans, Callart Cottage, Victoria Road, Fort William Tel: 01397 702727