COCOA SHELL MULCH CAN BE TOXIC TO DOGS AND CATS

Every Spring, emails start circulating making claims that cocoa mulch, which contains the chemical theobromine, can be lethal to dogs and cats.

This is NOT an Urban Myth, and while only a few reported cases have ever been reported, the warning should not be taken lightly.

"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:

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Target, 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 th eobromine, 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. "

How Well Do You Know Man's Best Friend??

DOGS have been man's best friend for more than

10,000 years, but how the relationship evolved has never been clear.
Our canine friends might be descended from wolves,

but they don't have too much in common with the wild beasts.

But how well do you know our four-legged friends?

Here are some fun facts about our canine companions...

All but two breeds of dogs have pink tongues.

The chow chow and the shar-pei, both have black tongues.

Dalmatian puppies are born pure white,

with their spots developing as they mature.

Basset hounds cannot swim. Their legs are too short

to keep their heavy, long bodies afloat.

Dogs can sniff out cancer by recognising its

signature smell, according to a 2006 study.

The smallest dog in history was a Yorkshire terrier.

At two years of age, fully grown, he was 2.5 inches tall

and 3.75 inches long. He weighed only four ounces.

Dog owners live longer, happier lives,

with less stress and fewer heart attacks.

The average city dog lives three years longer than a country dog.

A dog's sense of smell is about 1000 times stronger than a human.

The world's smartest dogs are thought to be

the border collie, the poodle and the golden retriever.

a recent poll found that 33 per cent of dog owners

admit to talking to their dogs on the phone and

leaving answering machine messages for them while away.

More fun facts at Daily Record!

Be Careful With Chocolate Today and Dogs

The increasing popularity of high quality 'posh choc'

brands this Easter is increasing the likelihood of the

nation's pets suffering fatal chocolate poisoning,

warns leading veterinary charity, PDSA.

Higher quality plain chocolate products - 'posh chocs' -

are the most dangerous 'treat' as they contain the highest

concentrated doses of theobromine - the component of

chocolate which poisons pets. So, while owners may wish

to indulge in some luxury treats this Easter, PDSA is

warning owners to keep these well out of their pet's reach.

PDSA warns that the best quality products - those with

high cocoa content - pose the biggest risk to the nation's

pets. The average (30g to 45g) bar of upmarket plain

chocolate can contain over 700mg of theobromine.

For example, just a small bar of plain chocolate

could fatally poison a Yorkshire Terrier.

People are simply not aware that even small

amounts of chocolate intended for humans can kill a little dog.

But it is not only chocolate that could be causing

problems this Easter. Cocoa shell mulches, a favourite

with gardeners, also contain high levels of theobromine

(14 to 30 mg per gram) - just a few mouthfuls

could kill a Cocker Spaniel.

PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Elaine Pendlebury says,

"I have lost count of the number of chocolate poisoning cases

I have seen during my years as a vet. There really is no place

in a pet's diet for chocolate. If you do want to indulge your pet

this Easter then opt for a healthy pet treat instead.

"Even white chocolate is dangerous, although the

theobromine content is relatively low, it can still poison pets."

Sometimes, despite an owner's best intentions, our

four-legged friends will outsmart us and get their

paws on sweet treats, as Elaine explains, "Owners

may think that they have put chocolate in a safe place,

but it's not unheard of for our clever pets to open an

unlocked cupboard to feast on naughty treats such as

chocolate. My advice is to make sure unsuitable foods

are kept in locked cupboards and think twice before

using cocoa mulches in the garden."

The effects of chocolate poisoning in dogs usually appear

within 4 to 24 hours of ingestion, and can last as long as 72 hours.

Chocolate toxicity symptoms include vomiting,

abdominal tenderness, hyperactivity, salivation and

increased heart rate (although sometimes a slower

heart rate). In severe cases there are fits, increased

rate of breathing, and heart beat irregularities.

In very severe cases it can result in the death of the pet.

Potty Training A Yorkshire Terrier

HELP!

Potty training can be a nightmare for

some dog owners. We got this

question sent in today....

"I have 12wk yorkie. I would like to know what

is the best way to potty train.

I live in an apartment that has carpet all over

except for the kitchen at the bathroom.

I tried taking him outside but he doesn't go potty.

He does it when he comes back inside.

I found out from the breeder that my boyfriend

got him from that the dog is not use to grass only

the potty pads. I have him in a baby play pen where

is bed is at one end and the potty pad is at the other.

I just recently bought a crate for him but he went a peed

in the crate. In desperate need

of help on what to do. Thanks!"

Being used to potty pads may be why he is

not going outside. - Although I was trained

on paper when I was very small and introduced to

grass I think, around 8-9 weeks.

Maybe try putting the potty pad outside will get

him to do his business outside....maybe even

spinkle some grass blades on the pad...

anyone have thoughts or personal

stories to share???

Yorkshire Terrier Temperment

I think,though a toy breed, the Yorkie still

retains much of its terrier ancestry in terms of personality.

Individual dogs sometimes differ, but they are

generally intelligent, independent and gutsy.

Yorkshire Terriers are quick to determine where

they fit in a household's "pack."Their behavior towards

outsiders will vary - they often will be inclined to bark

at strangers, but some Yorkies are outgoing and friendly

towards new people while others are withdrawn and aloof.

The differences in behavior in this regard are largely

based on how the owner trains or conditions (and socializes)

the Yorkie.A few individual Yorkshire Terriers

may be timid or nervous, rather than bold, but the

vast majority do seem to meet the breed standard for

a confident, vigorous and self-important personality.

Flying Yorkies

If you own a small dog,

you have probably heard about hawks

swoopping down of them.

Also, high winds, will literally life me off the

the ground sometimes!

I read that in 1993, a tiny Yorkie in Texas,

was airlifted clear out of her yard!

"we knew she had been carried away,"

said owner Jim Davis, "because a neighbor

saw her flying in the air about 15-20 feet up!"

The tiny dog actually survived the air flight!

She was found 2 days later about 2 miles away!

The Quarter Pounder

According to the Guinness Book,

The world's smallest dog living is Whitney,

(this photo IS NOT HER)

a Yorkshire terrier who measured 3 inches to the shoulder and

9.5 inches from nose to tail-tip on November 26, 2002.

Whitney is owned by Christopher and Patricia Sheridan of Essex, UK.

In 1945, allegedly, there was a Yorkie who was a mere 2 1/2" tall

and 3 - 3/4" long! The pup weighed 4 ounces!

THAT'S SMALL!!