All-Around Non-Toxic Flea Control

Let’s face it. Fleas are the WORST, but applying pesticides to our pampered pooches doesn’t make us howl with excitement either. In an attempt to find non-toxic flea control remedies, Care2 staff stumbled upon this amazing technique that kills fleas fast without toxic chemicals. While citrus peel extract (d-limonene) works well for dogs, cats can’t tolerate it, so this is an especially great choice.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a powder comprised of microskeletons of deceased diatoms, which are a type of algae (both fresh water and sea water varieties occur). You sprinkle the powder on your pets and your carpets, and the fleas die from dehydration. As a foster care provider for hundreds of dogs, this stuff has been a miracle. You can use it on dogs, puppies, kittens, and cats.

How it works:
When applied to the animal’s fur, DE scrubs on the hard exoskeletons of fleas. 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. It works the same way when applied to carpets instead of fur.
How to use it:
1) Wear a mask and put one on your pet. Even though it’s nontoxic, you don’t want to get it in your lungs.

2) Sprinkle the DE along your dry pet’s spine. Massage it along the body, working your way carefully to the extremities, avoiding the eyes.

3) Spread some diatomaceous earth on the carpets, brush it in and leave for about four days. Then vacuum it up to remove most of the fleas in the carpet.

4) Repeat the application frequently during an infestation. You should notice a decrease in fleas within a couple days.

NOTE: Make sure not to use the kind of DE used in swimming pools. Use natural diatomaceous earth; it is available in gardens supply centers, some health food stores, and from natural-pet catalogs.

Read more: Pests, Pets

The Care2 Staff

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Paul N.

5:38PM PST on Jan 1, 2012

Last tidbit: Unlike Diatomaceous Earth, Fuller's Earth is also subject to decomposition and potential toxicty due to decomp. If you've had that product for a long time, you are likely wise to get rid of it. By its nature, Diatomaceous Earth does not decompose or change in nature over time. (I personally take a heaping teaspoon a day in a little ginger ale for my own health. Since it also does not disolve in liquid, I just stir it up again after a little time or generally chug it right down.) There's no unpleasant taste to it. Just a bit "gritty". Some use 2 heaping tablespoons.

send a green star

5:17PM PST on Jan 1, 2012

PS.. You may also see food grade diatomaceous earth in health food stores referred to as "Fossil Shell Flour". It is an accurate descriptive and does refer to food grade diatomaceous earth.

5:13PM PST on Jan 1, 2012

Hi, Marsha. The package you purchased was grossly mislabeled, and I would not trust the product. This is an excerpt found at: http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-diatomaceous-earth-and-vs-fullers-earth/ : “While fuller’s earth is a clay containing silicates, diatomaceous earth is a sedimentary rock that is made up of fossils of diatoms that are nothing but aquatic plants.....” All Diatomaceous Earth, however, is not alike. Diatoms live in both salt and fresh water. The salt water DE is full of impurities while the freshwater deposits are concentrated and have been undisturbed for hundreds of thousands of years.. no mixing with other deposits and impurities. This is “food grade”. DE is also used for swimming pool filters. This DE is heat treated and chemically altered, is toxic and not to be used by people and pets. Use only “food grade” diatomaceous earth. The original producer and world’s largest supplier of food grade DE is a company called Perma-Guard. They employ the purest freshwater deposits from undisturbed ancient dried up lake beds. There are only a select few of these sites. Perma-Guard Food Grade DE is repackaged and usually identified as being Perma-Guard and “food grade” or “freshwater” by numerous online stores and is available through organic pest control retailers with local stores also. Some health food stores may also handle it, but may not be the easiest way to find it. It is als

Marsha A.

4:25PM PST on Jan 1, 2012

The container that I have, has Diatemacious Earth written on it, and then in brackets, Fuller's Earth, which is why I referred to them interchangeably. I am going to throw away what I have since I've had it for a long time and have been very concerned about using it. I will ask at the health store about the supplement friendly variety.

1:20PM PST on Jan 1, 2012

Soory.. didn't think I was rattling on so long. To contiue.. The pets should have no skin discomfort at all.. as I said, you don't need to go "skin deep".

There are probably as many suggestions on approach for application as there are users. Any powder is likely to fall onto places and rub off onto things.. but many of those places may be where fleas can be found if the pet sleeps or lays and rolls around there.

As an alternative to powders, if you need one, Marsha's recommendation of the citrus oil may just do the trick! As for using powders.. good old common sense can usually guide us regarding any cautions of use.

1:11PM PST on Jan 1, 2012

To Marsha.. Please stop referring to Diatomaceous Earth as a type of "Fuller's Earth". It is not. They are derrived from different sources, have different mineral content, and Fuller's Earth is a clay. DE is NOT a "food grade Fuller's Earth". Please stop confusing the two. Night and day. Different stuff. Not the same...... not even related...shall I continue?

To Danielle.. DE poses the same problems with direct inhalation as does baby powder. There isn't a toxicity problem, as you know.. just that such a fine powder ain't good to inhale directly. Typicall, when apllying baby powder to a baby's butt, one can sprinkle on and spread with the hand without ending up with clouds of dust because the skin is smoothe. With DE on fur, if you sprnkle on liberally and then rub it in with a rapid scratching motion, here come the clouds. You might try doing it outside or in a well ventilated are, use thin gloves on your hands, apply the DE to your palm, and gently massage it into the fur, but it is not necessary to go "skin deep". The fleas move around a lot, and the DE will get 'em! If you use this type of approach, you can judge for yourself if you need a mask, but it depends on how much you agitate the powder when applying. Animals will naturally scratch, but again, the cautions are really against direct inhalation.. just like baby powder. The reason I suggest gloves is that Diatomaceous Earth does have a tendency to dry the skin of your hands because of its natural absorbancy. The

12:22PM PST on Jan 1, 2012

P.S. Re FLEA CONTROL - Although I haven't had the need to use it yet, after doing some research I found out that there is a natural flea control available from the health store. It's called 'L- Imogene', (spelling?) a natural citrus oil essence that is safe for use on pets. Some of you might find this helpful (behind ears, armpits or inner legs/thighs, around tail). I just hate the toxic flea control stuff, but sometimes it's just a necessary evil.

12:15PM PST on Jan 1, 2012

I am pleased to find out that there is a food grade 'Fuller's Earth', or diatemacious earth that is safe and actually a good supplement for pets (and I understand some people). I was just aware that you had to be really, really sure of what you were using since the 'wrong' stuff is severely dehydrating and yes, can have serious ramifications. Also, I believe I confused this with the extremely serious consequences of using 'CLUMPING CAT LITTER' - DEATH! I had a lovely, long haired black Persian cat once, when I was using the clumping litter. She was one of those cats who would go outside, but come in to use the litter box. I noticed that bits of the litter were actually stuck hard to her paws and hard for her to get off when grooming. I was prompted to do a search, and found out that this type of litter can be very dangerous. If ingested, which is likely since cats are such good groomers, the litter binds with the moisture in the intestinal tract and can cause death. I have never used clumping cat litter again, and find it disturbing to see it so widely advertised with no cautions. I appreciate being made of aware of a healthy kind of diatemacious earth and will check it out at the health store. I also hope that enough people will see this information on clumping cat litter and find it helpful.

Danielle I.

12:52AM PST on Jan 1, 2012

All my animals get (food grade) diatom mixed in with their food, dogs, cats and chooks. It kills parasites and is great for general health. I know people who take it daily also and swear by it but I found the grittiness a bit hard to swallow. I have used it on my carpets also for flea control but found it quite hard to get it onto the animals skin without it all just falling everywhere and then having a dust cloud which the animals were breathing in so I stopped using it on them for fleas. Maybe there is a knack to it? :)

12:16PM PST on Dec 22, 2011

Also, Marsha incorrectly identified DE as "Fullers Earth". They are completely different substances. Wikipedia will tell you so if you check both terms. Again, to learn factual info on pet health benefits and Diatomatomaceous Earth for flea control, google Earthworks Health.