Diatomaceous Earth For Dogs and Cats, Little Help with Fleas

Does Diatomaceous Earth Help Dogs And Cats?
There are no research studies that support the use of diatomaceous earth in dogs and cats. There is a study showing it decreases parasite load in free-range organic laying hens, but no studies have been done for dogs and cats. Does this mean you shouldn’t use it? Not necessarily. Would I use diatomaceous earth in my own pets? No. How come? There are lots of things I use that don’t have scientific research and they work beautifully—chicken soup for sick dogs, so why don’t I use diatomaceous earth for dogs and cats what is it used for?

Diatomaceous Earth for Fleas

Diatomaceous earth is a fine, particulate substance that is dusted onto pets to cause havoc with fleas through desiccation. Sounds great; diatomaceous earth is not a chemical so it won’t cause toxicity. Because 95% of a flea’s life is spent off the pet and on the ground, dusting the dog or cat with diatomaceous earth will not be as helpful as dusting the environment. In addition, diatomaceous earth is ineffective if wet so if the dog is bathed, goes swimming, or gets rained on, the diatomaceous earth won’t help with fleas.

 Alternative to Diatomaceous Darth for fFeas

If diatomaceous earth won’t work to control fleas, what will? Some promote garlic, but it won’t work. Why? In order to kill fleas the dog needs such large amounts of garlic that we cause harm to its red blood cells--Heinz body anemia. Although cats can have a small amount of garlic, their red blood cells are even more sensitive to garlic than are dogs, so the amounts necessary to kill fleas will kill cats. Not such a good idea.

 What I recommend for fleas—

• Keep the pet healthy as sick pets attract more fleas than do healthy pets.
• Keep the skin clean
• Any shampoo lalthered and left on the pet’s body for 10 min will kill the fleas on the pet
• Remove debris from the yard so no place for fleas to hang out
• Get chickens to eat the fleas or use wasps that eat fleas
• Dust the home with boric acid powder
• Use Advantage or Frontline if absolutely necessary. (Revolution is not very effective for fleas, despite the advertising.)