Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a non-toxic powder comprised of the crushed fossils of freshwater and marine organisms. On the microscopic level, DE resembles bits of broken glass. Though freshwater food-grade DE is harmless to humans and animals, those itty-bitty glass-like fragments kill insects that have an external skeleton such as fleas, ticks, lice, and mites (and their larvae) by piercing their protective structures, which causes them to dehydrate and die!
By applying DE on your pet’s coat, as well as on bedding and carpeting, it takes less than three days for it to do its work. For this reason, it’s important to leave in on your pet to do its job as well as in any carpeting for at least that long before vacuuming. You can order dust-free DE lotion from Phleaz.com to apply to your pets’ coat.
Other Important Uses for DE:
Gardens - Because DE repels and kills everything from ants, caterpillars, army worms, cockroaches, snails, spiders and termites to silverfish, earwigs, bed bugs, fruit flies and beetles (remember it’ll keep the ticks away too!), diatomaceous earth is great for the garden – especially if you have pets roaming around there and don’t want to use chemical pesticides. Simply sprinkle in the area or mix with water and spray on trees. Make sure to apply repeatedly.
Detoxifier - Because DE is full of minerals (magnesium, silicon, calcium, sodium, iron and other trace minerals), it’s also known to help keep pets – and people – healthy when eaten. According to eatlocalgrown.com, healthy skin, hair and nails and lower blood cholesterol are all potential benefits. It’s also known as an overall detoxifier, which is probably why deworming is another common use for DE.
Dewormer - Taken internally, DE can rid dogs of roundworms, whipworms, pinworms, and hookworms – though they are less effective against tapeworms – within a week of daily feeding. It should be fed for at least a month to kill hatching eggs and worms moving in and out of the stomach.
Deodorizer - If your problem is stinky dog, you can also use DE as a natural deodorizer. Dust your carpet or other stinky area with DE and leave it for about a day, then vacuum or sweep it up. (If you are using it on carpet, make sure to vacuum your carpet before using the DE too.) For cat owners, mix in some DE with your kitty litter to neutralize odors.
NOTE: ONLY USE food grade DE on or in your pets. Also, avoid inhaling DE dust for you and your pets, as it can cause temporary lung irritation with no long-term effects.
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