It's common knowledge that chocolate is toxic to dogs. While a little milk chocolate probably won't do any serious damage, pure cocoa can really cause harm to a pooch if they eat too much of it.

While most pet parents know to avoid the chocolate found in food, there could be chocolate hidden other places - like in landscaping!

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The National Capital Poison Center released a warning over the dangers of "chocolate" mulch in landscaping.

They stated:

"Cocoa bean mulch contains theobromine and caffeine, just like chocolate. These chemicals are poisonous to dogs. Dogs who swallow cocoa bean mulch could have vomiting, diarrhea, a very fast heart rate, tremors and seizures. Death is uncommon but has happened. It's impossible to tell how much cocoa bean mulch might be poisonous."

Photo: Flickr/Leslie Seaton License: CC BY 2.0

Cocoa bean mulch is made from the shells of cocoa beans. It smells like chocolate and can be toxic to dogs.

Gardeners and landscapers might enjoy using cocoa mulch for the beneficial nutrients it can add to soil. Compared to other mulch, it has a sweet chocolatey smell that can be appealing as well.

Photo: Pexels/Helena Lopes

According to Johnson's Nursery, chocolate mulch is darker than most other mulch types. It also has that chocolate smell. Other than those two factors, it can be hard to identify. When in doubt, it's best to prevent your dog from eating any form of mulch. If you suspect there's cocoa mulch around, be especially mindful about letting your dog free roam or eat things from the ground.

If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate mulch, you should contact a veterinarian to be safe.