FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2006

Many of us have known for years that dogs and cats can become sick and yes, even have long-term health effects from eating chocolate. While it seldom happens, the same is true for pets that eat cocoa mulch purchased at your local garden store. Studies have shown that fifty percent of the dogs that eat cocoa mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual dog). However, ninety-eight percent of all dogs won't eat it according to industry trade representatives.

The danger of canine theobromine poisoning does not begin and end with cocoa mulch however; chocolate in any form poses substantial risks to some pets. This most beloved of foodstuffs contains theobromine and small amounts of caffeine, both of which can sicken and even kill cats and dogs.

Chocolate's toxicity to animals is directly related to three factors: the type of chocolate, the size of the animal, and the amount of chocolate ingested. Unsweetened baking chocolate presents the greatest danger to pets because it contains the highest amount of theobromine, approximately 390 �" 450 milligrams per ounce. White chocolate contains the least. As a general rule of thumb, one ounce of milk chocolate per pound of body weight can be lethal for dogs and cats.

Now you know and if you have used cocoa mulch for years and haven't had any problem with your pet, then maybe you're okay, or maybe you have just been lucky up to this point. But if you have a happy-go-lucky breed, like a lab, that will eat anything it sees, maybe you had better choose a different mulch product.

For more information, please contact:

Jeff West
County Extension Director
Henry-Stark Unit
26234 N. 100 Ave.
P. O. Box 74
Galva, IL 61434
Phone: 309-853-1533
FAX: 309-853-1634
jwest@uiuc.edu