Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous Earth is made from the fossilized shells of diatoms, an ancient kind of algae. As time passed, these microscopic shells, consisting mostly of the mineral silica, accumulated in freshwater lake beds and formed huge silica deposits. When mined and ground into powder, it becomes what we call diatomaceous earth. This chalk-like powder is microscopically very hard, coarse, and absorbent, which makes it useful for many things.
There are different kinds of DE, known as grades. Which grade you buy depends on what you plan to use it for. Let's take a look at the different grades of DE and what they are used for.
Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade
DE in its purest form is organic and safe to ingest and use around your home, children, and pets. This kind of DE meets the Food Chemicals Codex requirements to be called food grade. Because of its high silica content and trace minerals, people often take food grade DE as a health supplement. People also take it as a way to detox. Its microscopically coarse texture gives your insides a gentle scrub as it absorbs toxins from your body. Food grade DE also offers similar benefits for animals.
If ticks are common in your area, you probably know how problematic they can be. They can latch onto your dog anytime he or she romps around in the grass or the woods, potentially exposing your dog to an assortment of diseases.
The best way to handle tick bites is to catch them early and know what to do about them. And once you discover that your dog has been bitten, diatomaceous earth can be a powerful tool in dealing with the situation.
DE is deadly to insects and arachnids, and ticks are no exception, yet it is harmless for you and your dog. DE is free of chemicals and other toxins, yet it is an effective pesticide because of its physical construction. DE is highly absorbent and abrasive. When bugs walk through it, it sticks to them and sucks away their moisture, eventually killing them by dehydration.
Diatomaceous Earth is a dirt cheap way to control external and internal parasites in your dog.
It’s a non-toxic, safe substance made up from crushed fossils of freshwater organisms and marine life. Crushed to a fine powder and observed through a microscope, the particles resemble bits of broken glass.
Diatomaceous Earth is deadly to any insect yet completely harmless to animals. Diatomaceous Earth’s mode of action for insect and parasite control is strictly mechanical. The microscopically sharp edges contact the insect or parasite, and pierce their protective coating, so they soon dehydrate and die. The larvae are affected in the same way.
The Benefits Of Diatomaceous Earth For Pets
Internal parasites can be controlled by giving Diatomaceous Earth internally. It is very important to note that it must be food grade – the earth used in gardens and pool filters can damage your dog.
Diatomaceous Earth can eliminate roundworms, whipworms, pinworms, and hookworms within seven days of being fed daily.
To be most effective, Diatomaceous Earth should be fed for at least 30 days, to catch all newly hatching eggs or the cycling of the worms through the lungs and back to the stomach.
Another use for Diatomaceous Earth is the control of external parasites and flies. This is achieved by dusting your dog with Diatomaceous Earth, along with his bedding area and surrounding carpeted areas.
Other Uses
Diatomaceous Earth has also been reported in scientific literature to absorb methyl mercury, e-coli, endotoxins, viruses, organophosphate pesticide residues, drug resides, and protein, perhaps even the proteinaceous toxins produced by some intestinal infections.
Given this, Diatomaceous Earth is very useful as a detox solution, digestive aid and colon cleanser.
Dosage
For dogs, use one tablespoon per day of food grade Diatomaceous Earth in his food for dogs over 55 lbs. and one teaspoon per day for small dogs and puppies. For external parasite control, simply rub the powder at full strength into the coat for fleas and sprinkle on bedding.
Bonus!
Use this safe and effective flea and tick powder recipe to protect your pet from fleas and ticks:
Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
NEEM (dry form)
Yarrow (dry form)
Simply mix the three together in equal parts and rub the dust mixture into your dog’s coat. Use caution around the eyes and mouth of your dog as DE can irritate the mucosa. Once the dust settles however, there is no harm.
Cautions
Make sure you purchase and use food grade DE only. DE can cause irritation on the lungs so please ensure you and your dogs don’t inhale any dust.
Natural Flea Control
DE is a natural pest control to use around your home, but you can also use it to treat your cat for fleas.
Fleas are blood-sucking parasites which live outside, in our homes, and on our pets. The good thing, though, is that fleas really don't like DE.
As with other insects and arachnids, DE is a natural insecticide that is safe to use around your pets and family members.
DE is a natural solution to treat pests around your house but did you know it can be used to treat your dog's fleas too?
Fleas are blood-sucking parasites which live outside, in our homes, and on our pets. The good thing, though, is that fleas really don't like DE.
As with other insects and arachnids, DE is a natural insecticide that is safe to use around your pets and family members.
Diatomaceous Earth For Pets
While it's more common to use Diatomaceous Earth as a flea prevention, many people have added small amounts of DE to their pet's diet. There a numerous benefits a pet can receive from a consistent dosage of DE. Pet owners who have given their pets DE have found their pet has an improved coat, appetite, metabolism, and digestion.