Jeff Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 Been reading about it for years, but never tried it. I found a 40 pound bag of food grade Diatomaceous Earth at a local feed store for $14, so if it works, it has already paid for itself. Saving $30 in Frontline + for the 3 dogs. And if it works, that 40 pounds is good for many generations of dogs, it should last forever lol I'm guessing I'll reapply every 2 weeks and after a bath. Anyone have any experience using it as a preventative and not a one shot fix? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindles Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 No personal experience with it, but I'm curious to hear your results. A lot of people who keep chickens will mix it in with sand for the hens to use as a dust bath. They say it's great at keeping bugs away. Quote | Rachel | Dewty, Trigger, and Charlotte | Missing Dazzle, Echo, and Julio | Learn what your greyhound's life was like before becoming part of yours!"The only thing better than the cutest kitty in the world is any dog." -Daniel Tosh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTRAWLD Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 I did not personally apply it, however when we were on vacation in September, we left our boys with a greyhound sitter, she found a flea on Kasey and applied the Earth after removing the flea. I didn't see a flea since. That was the one time fix. He has NEVER had a flea until that time and I was shocked he got one in the first place! So far, two thumbs up here. I don't know if I would replace the regular preventative entirely for my boys, but for fixing the problem if they have fleas ON them, for sure. Quote Proudly owned by:10 year old "Ryder" CR Redman Gotcha May 201012.5 year old Angel "Kasey" Goodbye Kasey Gotcha July 2005-Aug 1, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamsmom Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 There is a friend of mine who feeds that stuff to her dogs. She also takes it herself. I'm curious to see if you have good results from it. Quote ~Beth, with a crazy mixed crew of misfits.~ Forever and Always missing and loving Steak, Carmen, Ivy, Isis, and Madi.Don't cry because it's ended, Smile because it happened.Before you judge me, try to keep an open mind, not everyone likes your taste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 I'm curious to hear the results. Definitely would be cheaper to use on our pack! Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 Wouldn't get my hopes up, especially in a humid environment. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted April 24, 2011 Author Share Posted April 24, 2011 There is a friend of mine who feeds that stuff to her dogs. She also takes it herself. I'm curious to see if you have good results from it. It is fed as a wormer, not for fleas/ticks etc Wouldn't get my hopes up, especially in a humid environment. Why not, seems it would work better to me there. It is a powder so that would help it stick to the skin better than in a dry environment IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 The mode of action against pests requires the product to be drier than the pest. If it takes up moisture from the environment, it's no longer dry enough to dessicate the pest. Folks have been trying to use it in grain storage for quite a few years. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BrianRke Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 Let us know how that works. That would be a great option for the hounds in the adoption kennel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted April 24, 2011 Author Share Posted April 24, 2011 True to a point. DE works 2 ways. 1 it cuts through the body of insects. and 2, it dehydrates them. Since the dogs are inside in the AC much more than outside, I don't think dehydration will be an issue, and it will be sharp regardless. My only real concern is whether it will work as a preventative rather than a treatment. Will it remain on the dogs long enough. I'm hoping at least 2 weeks so I can dust them every other week. Here in the woods we have a decent number of ticks. Have seen them on the dogs with both frontline spray and the standard topical. Obviously it is not a repellent, the ticks still need to bite and die. Hopefully the DE works as well or better. Some reading mentioned that pests may not want to adhere because that can feel the sharp nature of the DE. Time will tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WhiteWave Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 We use it. It works ok, but in FL, it is not perfect. For my dogs with allergies to fleas, I give them comfortis. But we put DE in the crate room, around the baseboards and in the crates, and dust the dogs with it if I see a flea on them. I also started giving it them in their food. But haven't been doing it long enough to form an opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Greytluv Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Why do you put it in their food? Worms? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4greyhounds Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 We used it when we were in South Carolina, and we had great success. But it was not real good here in Florida so we now use comfortis the only thing we have found that was effective. Te only thing I hated when I used it in South Carolina was the dust on there beds and everywhere they touched. I suggest leaving them outside for a while after the application. But we had great success with it. Good Luck and let us know how it goes..... Quote Darlene Mom to: Aladdin, Sophie ,Pongo, Jasmine, Relic Forever in our Hearts Champ at the Rainbow Bridge. Let a greyhound race into your heart Adopt Bay Area Greyhound Adoptions INC. Naples/ Fort Myers Chapter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest eaglflyt Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 (edited) There is a caution about using DE on or around pets. If it should get into the eyes of your pets, or lungs, it can cause severe problems. Extensive corneal abrasions and resulting blindness has been reported when DE got into the eyes of canine pets. Also, inhaling DE can be very harmful for both humans and animals. We chose not to use DE on or around our pets. It is also recommended that ONLY FOOD GRADE DE be used on or around pets. Here's a quick link. Also, a bit more info: • Food Grade diatomaceous earth only for your pets and your household, as other grades can contain chemicals which may be harmful. • Food grade DE contains very low percentages of crystalline silica, while non-food grade contains higher amounts. Crystalline silica is not good for your lungs (it's sharp and drying), so wear a mask even when applying food grade DE (just to be extra safe). Edited April 25, 2011 by eaglflyt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4My2Greys Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 There is a caution about using DE on or around pets. If it should get into the eyes of your pets, or lungs, it can cause severe problems. Extensive corneal abrasions and resulting blindness has been reported when DE got into the eyes of canine pets. Also, inhaling DE can be very harmful for both humans and animals. We chose not to use DE on or around our pets. It is also recommended that ONLY FOOD GRADE DE be used on or around pets. Here's a quick link. Also, a bit more info: • Food Grade diatomaceous earth only for your pets and your household, as other grades can contain chemicals which may be harmful. • Food grade DE contains very low percentages of crystalline silica, while non-food grade contains higher amounts. Crystalline silica is not good for your lungs (it's sharp and drying), so wear a mask even when applying food grade DE (just to be extra safe). I was going to bring that up too. As much as I like to use natural products, that has kept me from using it on my dogs. One thing you might want to look into using to eliminate fleas and ants on your property is beneficial nematodes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KennelMom Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 I'd be afraid of inhaling the stuff, especially continual exposure. Maybe use it on my yard, but not in the house or directly on the dogs. But, I used to be a smoker so I'm extra paranoid about lung cancer. I just posted this in another thread, but if you are looking for cheap flea killer, I know trainers at the track that use Bayer Tree and Shrub insect control. If you google "Bayer Tree and Shrub dog" or other various combos, you'll see some threads on various dog forums as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiffer Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 I don't use it on the crew, but I do use it around the house to keep pests at bay. I haven't had problems with earwigs in years since I started dusting the yard and perimeter of the house with it. I even use it to keep worms and aphids off my broccoli plants and rose bushes. Quote Jennifer and Beamish (an unnamed Irish-born Racer) DOB: October 30, 2011 Forever and always missing my "Vowels", Icarus, Atlas, Orion, Uber, and Miss Echo, and Mojito. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montgomery2524 Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 I use Food grade DE for bug control around the house and on the dogs. For the dogs I put it in my hands and then rub on the dogs so I don't cause a cloud of dust. For the yard you can mix with water and spray on the side of the house and the yard. Check out www.dirtworks.com they have a document on different uses. I also know humans who take it and have found their hair is softer. Not sure how that worked but DE was the only change they had made to their lifestyle. Quote Mom to Bella, Trinity, Cricket, DB, Dabber and Sidewinder As well as Gizmo, Miles, Pumba, Leo, Toby, Sugar, Smokey, Molly, Jasmine, Axel, Billy, Maggie-Mae, Duncan, Sam (MH King 2019), Bambi, Stella, Bay and "Gerty the cat" at the Bridge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mcsheltie Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 I'd be afraid of inhaling the stuff, especially continual exposure. Maybe use it on my yard, but not in the house or directly on the dogs. But, I used to be a smoker so I'm extra paranoid about lung cancer. I just posted this in another thread, but if you are looking for cheap flea killer, I know trainers at the track that use Bayer Tree and Shrub insect control. If you google "Bayer Tree and Shrub dog" or other various combos, you'll see some threads on various dog forums as well. The problem with this is they don't make it without fertilizer anymore I've looked for it for two years now. Not just in MI, but when I am traveling for shows too. I bought some DE to use on the kittens that are too young for anything else. But after doing more research I decided against it. So I have ten pounds of it in the garage. Nematodes work great in the yard. But if it doesn't rain you have to keep the yard watered or they will die. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KennelMom Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 (edited) Ah...didn't realize they didn't make it anymore w/o fertilizer. I've never sought it out to use on the dogs and I first heard about it a couple years ago at a track. Never mind Edited April 26, 2011 by KennelMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JarBear Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 We have been using the food grade on our yard and around the deck for several years now and occasionally rub some on the dogs. We have woods right behind the house with lots of critters living there and visiting our yard and we haven't had any fleas and very few ticks. We're careful when putting it on the yard and on the dogs that we don't get it in eyes or inhale it. We've picked up fosters from questionable circumstances and when we do we give them a Capstar and dust the van after just in case. We also sprinkle some around the baseboards and under the area rugs in the spring just in case one of the little buggers sneaks in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bang_o_rama Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Consider: http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/d1288.htm I would not be too confident that "food grade" DE dust is harmless. DE by definition is mostly silica.You wouldn't want to snort food-grade NaCl or USP talc into your bronchii either.... ~D~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greytluck Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I haven't had problems with earwigs in years since I started dusting the yard and perimeter of the house with it. I even use it to keep worms and aphids off my broccoli plants and rose bushes. Great tip, thanks Quote Hobbes-Ricard Hatch09/23/99-12/21/09 Always loved, never forgotten. Wally TNJ Boy Howdy, GLS Genuinerisk Corinna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TinasTroops Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 We buy it, Sell it and use in around the house, in the yard and on the hounds when needed and have for a few years now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest madredhare Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 That stuff is pretty amazing. My husband got bit by a brown recluse spider last year and the exterminator told us to sprinkle it around the house to get rid of them. Best thing, it is safe for the hounds. I also use the food grade on the dogs food. They love it. I don't know if it is relevant or not, but my Tom has kidney disease and his blood tests were improved after putting this on his food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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