Diatomaceous Earth For Eliminating Fleas

Tip: Diatomaceous Earth For Eliminating Fleas

Can dogs take diatomaceous internally for fleas?

By anners from Sacramento, CA

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RE: Diatomaceous Earth For Eliminating Fleas

While I am not an expert, my understanding is that diatomaceous earth is effective on insects because, although it looks smooth to us, it is actually very coarse crystals which damage insects exoskeleton, which causes them to dehydrate and die. I can't imagine it would do any good inside an animal and I would think it would cause harm by scratching the digestive track and causing inflammation. (05/23/2009)

By zoodad

RE: Diatomaceous Earth For Eliminating Fleas

The internal digestion of diatomaceous earth will assist in ridding the dog of any adult worm stages he/she may happen to be carrying. However will do nothing for the fleas. I don't think it would be safe to put on the dog's coat either. Simply because in the process of doing that you would be getting the fine crystal-like particles airborne. You and the dog would breathe that in, not good. (05/23/2009)

By thriftyengineer

RE: Diatomaceous Earth For Eliminating Fleas

For fleas, buy "Nutritional Yeast" bulk in a Health Food Store or super market that sells bulk foods. Sprinkle on about a teaspoon a day into your dogs food for a medium size dog. Most fleas hate the way the B-vitamins in the yeast make your dog smell. It's a natural alternative, but not near as effective as a flea bath, flea-dip or flea meds! Better do something before you whole house is overrun with fleas! Nasty little critters! (05/24/2009)

By Cyinda

RE: Diatomaceous Earth For Eliminating Fleas

Under a microscope DE looks like glass snowflakes, and I can just envision the abrasion on the dog's intestinal surfaces. That and it might cause an impaction, accumulating until there's a blockage. (05/28/2009)

By kimhis

Request: Diatomaceous Earth For Eliminating Fleas

To eliminate fleas on your pets, and in your home, use Diatomaceous Earth. It is finely ground crustacean shells, a fine powder to humans, but sharp edges that cut through the fleas outer shell. I found it on the internet, it also kills ants, cockroaches, bedbugs and flies. It can also be fed to pets and livestock as a dewormer.

By Karen from Ozark, AL

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RE: Diatomaceous Earth For Eliminating Fleas

I love that stuff, it works. I found mine at the feedstore. Since it's mostly silica, wear a mask and don't breathe it when you're throwing it around. I used to have goats and made the best floor in the barn, by putting down 6 inches of clean washed sand, then 1/2 inch of Diatomaceous Earth, then 12 inch square concrete paver blocks. The wetness ran between blocks and into the sand, where no fly babies could ever hatch because of the Diatomaceous Earth, and I could sweep up everything on top of the pavers.

Be aware that it never, never decays, being a lot like glass (under the microscope it looks like stars, really neat shell shapes, and the pointy corners is what terminates the bugs, not a chemical at all). So don't put it into any garden ground because it's for sure not a friend to earthworms. But it sure beats any chemical spray poisons, much smarter and more organic. (06/18/2007)

By Kim Ch

RE: Diatomaceous Earth For Eliminating Fleas

Please, please take care and do not breath in this powder. It is very dangerous and can damage your lungs. Read the label directions. (06/18/2007)

By Margaret

RE: Diatomaceous Earth For Eliminating Fleas

Very Important. I quote A. Valeria from CA, whose post I read: "I've used Diatomaceous Earth for years, I even used it to get rid of a horrific flea infestation with no bad effects. It works against all insects and parasites.

The "important" thing to note is that "pool grade Diatomaceous Earth is extremely dangerous and can cause silicosis (scarring of the lungs similar to asbestos poisoning). The only safe Diatomaceous Earth to use is natural pulverized or ground Diatomaceous Earth, that can be found in plant nurseries and food storage shops. This Diatomaceous Earth has not been superheated, a process which creates fine threads of silicone glass which makes it a better filtering product, but makes it dangerous to handle or breath." (It's dangerous for humans, think how much more so for your pet.) By Aslan

RE: Diatomeceous Earth For Eliminating Fleas

Fleas have to come in contact with the Diatomaceous Earth in order for it to dehydrate them, so the Diatomaceous Earth (we recommend only food grade Diatomaceous Earth) needs to be applied in areas where the fleas exist. Spread very lightly in carpeting or flooring and leave it in for a few days to a week before vacuuming up. Outside it can be applied in areas where fleas or other insects are a problem. Again, we recommend only food grade Diatomaceous Earth, because wild life can consume it and non food grade can kill them, whereas food grade is safe for birds, rabbits, and other animals to consume, yet it's will still dehydrate fleas.

Here's an online source for food grade Diatomaceous Earth: http://www.wolfcreekranch.net and some retail stores that carry it: http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/de_retailers.html

Hope you are flea free quickly! (10/24/2008)

By healthy pets