Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled protist. It is used as a filtration aid, mild abrasive in products including metal polishes and toothpaste, mechanical insecticide, absorbent for liquids, matting agent for coatings, reinforcing filler in plastics and rubber, anti-block in plastic films, porous support for chemical catalysts, cat litter, activator in blood clotting studies, a stabilizing component of dynamite, a thermal insulator, and a soil for potted plants and trees like bonsai. Food grade is used for human cleanse and used for internal parasites in humans and animals.
DE Your back yard.
Diatomaceous earth is a viable way to treat large amounts of your property, without worrying about pollution. Diatomaceous earth kills ticks by mechanical action on a microscopic level, not by chemical methods. This makes it a good choice to use alongside targeted and responsible pesticide usage, like tick tubes. Use a grass seed spreader to treat your yard.
Tea Tree Spray and Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Food Grade
1. Flea and Tick Repellent
Tea Tree Spray Repels flea and ticks. Use daily.
2. Kill Flea and Ticks
On the microscopic level, diatomaceous earth resembles bits of broken glass. Though food-grade DE is harmless to humans and animals, those itty-bitty glass-like fragments kill insects like fleas, ticks, lice and mites (and their larvae) by piercing their protective structures, which causes them to dehydrate and die.
Apply the DE lightly on your pet’s coat, as well as on bedding and carpeting. It can take three days for it to do its work, so leave it in any carpeting for at least that long before vacuuming.
Note: Since DE acts as a drying agent, your pet could get some dry skin. If this happens, bathe him with a hydrating pet conditioner.
3. Garden Pest Control
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 about a cup to a 1/2 gallon of water should do the trick. Make sure to apply repeatedly.
4. Healthy Supplement
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; 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.
5. Natural 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 in order to kill hatching eggs and worms moving in and out of the stomach.
Make sure to mix the DE well into your dog’s food to prevent lung irritation from his breathing in the powder.
6. Chemical-Free 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.
Dosage:
To use DE as a dewormer or food supplement, use the following amounts:
1/2 tsp for puppies and small dogs
1 tsp for dogs under 50 lbs
1 tbsp for dogs over 50 lbs
2 tbsp for dogs over 100 lbs
So there you have it, 6 easy ways you can incorporate DE into your pet’s life for some natural housekeeping and nutrition boosting. Two important points to always remember when using DE: Never use the kind used in gardens and pool filters, it MUST be food grade or you will harm your pet. Also, avoid inhaling DE for you and your pets, as it is a lung irritant.
Your dog’s needs are important, and we recognize that not all products are created equal so our holistic boutique offers all you might need for a healthy pup!
