Food Grade Diatomacoeus Earth

[Geri]

Researching diatomacoeus earth, food grade, has been very eye opening.

It kills fleas and ticks, it is safe, you can sprinkle it on your dog and their bedding and it will not harm them

I always hated putting the Frontline on my dogs and now have ordered and recieved. It also kills other bugs.

I live in Florida and we have lots of critters. I ordered it on Amazon and it was pretty cheap compared to Frontline.

Please research it and you will really be suprised at all it does. I am going to sprinkle it around the kitchen cupboards too, it kills roaches, which can be a problem down south.

 

Geri  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Unfortunately, the only information I have been able to find about the efficacy of diatomaceous earth as a preventative against ticks is anecdotal. Chat forums, "alternative" or "natural remedies" websites, and people selling it. Do you have a link to any information that is factual and based on scientific, clinical studies or research? In other words, proof? 

Tick-borne illnesses are too serious to take a chance otherwise, IMO. 

I did try it years ago to get rid of a flea infestation in my home, and it didn't do a thing. 

[Adina P]

I want to know HOW it is used.  Do you wait until fleas show up and then sprinkle it on?  Do you put it on your dog daily, weekly, monthly for prevention?  How much do you sprinkle on, etc?  Does it make your dog look dusted with white powder or their coat feel weird?  Also something more than anecdotal would be good. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The diatoms in the earth slice up the exoskeletons of the bugs, so I understand how that works when it's used outdoors as a barrier; i.e., if the bugs have to go through the DE to get to your house. 

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

I have never used DE for fleas or ticks but have used it in the garden for insects.  I don't think I would use it on Haley because you must keep it out of your eyes and should wear a dust mask to prevent inhaling the dust.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Supposedly, the food grade stuff is safe. People even consume it. But a lot of people use a lot of folk remedies and home remedies that are backed only by anecdotal information and have been shown to be ineffective.  

[Geri]

I haven't had any problems with ticks, but Florida is a big flea state.

I have read the precautions for Frontline and will try the DE first.  I'd rather try the non-poisonus first.

Bug prevention is a big business and if I can find a way to treat my dogs safely, I will do it.

Karen, I have found that a lot of home remedies work, such as ginger or ginger ale for an upset stomach.

My DH died because o c-diff caused by medicine and a simple, natural procedure would have cured him, It took 6 months for the docs to use it, but it was too late.

 

Geri    

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I am sorry to hear about your husband. Yes, medications have risks as well as benefits, and it's always necessary to get as much info as possible and weigh the risk/benefit ratio before making a decision.

Ginger has properties that do aid in digestive issues, and there is a ton of reliable clinical research on that, so it's not just a word-of-mouth folk remedy. Also, most upset stomachs won't kill you, unlike many tick-borne illnesses. 

Yes, bug prevention is big business, and a lot of people are making money selling DE for all sorts of things. 

I've been using Frontline for 9 years, on two dogs and a cat. Never any kind of reaction or problem, even on older or sick pets, so my experience is that this products are safe. For sure they are safer than for my pets to get ticks or fleas. 

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Geri, If you don't mind the smell of cedar, also try Cedarcide (cedarcidestore.com). I have been using it and DE for 3 years and no Frontline at all. I sprinkle a bit of DE on their wet food each night and spray the Cedarcide around their legs and bellies and top of their necks every couple days. No fleas, no ticks. I also do annual titers and blood tests and don't always believe scientific and factual research, as many times it is bought and paid for by the very companies selling the products. I did a lot of trial and error with every natural product on the market and this has been working for me and my constant fosters that come through our rescue. Like everything, you have to do your homework and use what you think is best. Just my opinion.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Geri. So sorry about your husband.i have had C diff several times and have been fortunate enough to have the medications work pretty fast...I am sincerely sorry for your loss.....I can't speak to the alternative treatments that you are speaking of because I don't know enough about them.


Lynne....I was wondering what titers you get drawn for your dogs...do,you get a Lymes titer to see if they were exposed? I never heard of a Flea titer....


Jack gets titer tested yearly for distemper and parvovirus ...I wasn't aware of the others....once we had Jack tested for Lymes and it was a mess, not accurate and three different tests for antibodies showed three different things...

[Pauline Rackley]

Are you referring to a fecal transplant? I have been battling c diff for months.

[Geri]

Yes, I am, Pauline.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Inhaling it sounds like it would be problematic just based on common sense.