Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth

by Tiffani M. Beckman, Vet Asst. & Student of Veterinary Medicine

Diatomaceous earth is a common enough substance - found usually in the swimming pool maintenance area of many stores. The DE I am going to be talking about is only to be ingested if it is FOOD GRADE - the swimming pool stuff may be dangerous if eaten.

DE - what is it??

DE is earth that contains the microskeletons of deceased diatoms, which are a type of algae (both fresh water and sea water varieties occur). Diatoms secrete silicon to make a sort of shell for protection. When the diatoms die, their shells fall to the earth and fossilize. People take this earth and grind it very very finely (if it is not already a very fine powder) and use it to clean various things, to keep out invertebrates (insects, worms, etc), and to kill fleas.

How does DE kill fleas?

DE, when applied to the animal's fur, starts a scrubbing action on the hard exoskeletons of fleas (remember fleas have no bones on the inside like we do - they have hard armor on the outside for support and movement). The tiny granules of silicon (think finely ground sand) work in the tiny holes of the flea's respiratory system and in the joints of the fleas. Every time the flea moves or breathes, the silicon grinds away at the exoskeleton, eventually killing the flea through blocking/maiming the respiratory holes or by water loss, as the exoskeleton helps keep in the flea's body water. This works the same way when applied to carpets instead of fur.

How does DE kill intestinal worms?

DE is ingested (taken by mouth) and works in the very same way as above - by grinding the worm to death. Just think how painful it is to walk in shoes filled with sand - scrapes are made in no time! Intestinal worms don't have the hard exoskeleton that the fleas do, but the silicon does get into parts that move, such as mouth parts, and does the same action.

Sounds great - why isn't everyone using DE??

The major drawback to DE is that it can cause lung problems if accidently inhaled. The silicon reaches our lungs and scrubs away, causing bleeding and cysts. This is especially true in asthmatic people. Since the powder is so finely ground, chances of accidently inhaling it are fairly high, especially if used on a carpet and vacuumed up with a vacuum that blows out a lot of air, or if applied to the fur outside with a wind blowing. Masks for the animal and the human using it are MANDATORY.

What are dosages for my cat or dog?

The recommended dosages for large dogs over 55 pounds is 1 tablespoon a day, small dogs and cats get one teaspoon a day.

Can I feed this to my livestock too?

Yes - the FDA has approved DE for both external and internal use

If you have more questions on DE, or want to find out where to get it, please contact Bonnie Rogers, PHD (a premium kibble company) Regional Director (1-800-863-3403) or Bruce DeBaun, PHD national Director
(1-800-320-7062).

Please use masks when using DE to prevent any respiratory problem, and make your dog or cat wear one too.

Tiffani M. Beckman tabbique@yahoo.com