Interestingly enough, chocolate is a hot topic around HAWS these days...
Make Mine Chocolate
Rabbits are a familiar symbol of the Easter holiday - as TV pitchmen, the ubiquitous candy (admit it, you eat the ears off first, too), and in the form of stuffed animals of every shape and color. No surprise, children want a bunny of their own, but they are usually not prepared to care for their unique needs. In the months following Easter, many pet rabbits from our area find their way to the HAWS adoption ward.
The Make Mine Chocolate campaign is again using the season to educate the public of the challenges of properly caring for rabbits - and encouraging them to purchase chocolate Easter bunnies (or stuffed toy animals) rather than live ones. When you've done your research on house rabbits as pets, come to HAWS to adopt (we'll have plenty to choose from).
Speaking of theobromine...
Cocoa Mulch Toxicity
No question about it, chocolate and other products made from cacao beans contain substances toxic to dogs and cats. The main culprit is the substance theobromine, a caffeine-like chemical which acts as a mild diuretic and stimulant in human beings but is poisonous to animals less well equipped to metabolize it. (In English, that means that there IS such a thing as too much of a good thing.)
The kind of cocoa mulch used in landscaping mainly consists of cacao bean shells. It contains a higher concentration of theobromine than the chocolate we usually eat (just like dark chocolate has a higher concentration than milk chocolate). Dogs, attracted to the amazing scent, have eaten the mulch, leading to vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, seizures and, in some instances, death - depending on the quantity eaten.
It is equally toxic to cats, but vets say they are less likely to be enticed by cocoa products, which means less risk. Score one for the cats.
So yes, if your dog ingests cocoa mulch, contact your vet immediately, to be on the safe side.
By the way - don't let your dog eat ANY mulch - cocoa or otherwise. Cedar, bark and whatnot else aren't exactly good for their digestive systems either. Best thing to do when your dog is outside: play with him - it's good for you, too! Happy Spring!
