http://www.care2.com/greenliving/all-around-non-toxic-flea-control.html
All-Around Non-Toxic Flea Control
The Care2 Staff
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.
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add your comment »It is really difficult to bathe a goat. A gew years back, in my search for a way to keep biting flies & misquitoes off of my goats I rediscovered DE. I just sprinkled the DE powder on the goats backs & rubbed it down over their sides. It concerned me at first as 2 of the females were producing milk. There were no negative effects at all. The goats were much happier without all the biting insects annoying them. The DE would last up to about 2 weeks, depending on the amount of rain the goats got caught in. This stuff is great cuz it is non-toxic to animals when used properly. I have also heard of ranchers putting it in their cattle & horse feed. But that was a little too scary for me.
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I had read about DE last year and purchased some early this season from my local holistic pet food provider. Last week I had my first opportunity to use it. My dog was scratching like mad, and in a moment of weakness I used a flea shampoo on her whereas I sprayed the two cats with a mixture of 1Tbsp DE to 1 quart water (spray bottle was still mostly full after both applications) on the same day. Jump forward to today - fleas are back on the dog whereas both cats appear to be flea free after flea combing (a few dead fleas fell out with the comb). I just resprayed both cats and sprayed the dog....no more flea bathing over here. Also sprayed everywhere the pets hang out.
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One person says you can mix DE with water and spray it on.
Can you do this without losing the effectiveness?
I see someone says you cannot.
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i've used de for many years on my dog ginger and also in her food.use only the food grade powder.i've also read that it loses it's effectiveness when it becomes wet.i live in the dallas area and every weekend the plant doctor(howard garrett)talks very highly of it's uses.and it is NATURAL.you might be able to get it at a feed store.just look on line for the best prices close to your area.start out with a small amount first.i was able to buy 50lbs for under $30.
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For Maggy,
Here is a safe bug repelent that works on both animals and small children, need 3oz. Sol-U-Mel,5 drops of T36-C5 Melaleuca Oil(teatree oil) 8 to 16 oz of Water, you can spray on skin,clothes,and even the strollers. If any one needs to find out where to get these items email me @ WellnessAndMore@gmail.com
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For the Diatom Dust and Borax: (I've had success with the laundry Borax powder using same techniques described) Be sure that when you vacuum it up you empty the bag immediately. This is especially true if your vacuum is an upright, and fills from the bottom. The dust and borax can drop down when the vacuum is off, and ruin your motor.
I empty my upright right away-even though it is a top filling vacuum, just to be sure.
Also, fleas are attracted to light. To test and see if you have them, lay a white tee shirt on the floor, they'll jump right on it. I've also had luck with a goosneck lamp over a dish of soapy water. Just be sure the lamp is secure (won't fall in water), do only one room a night (flea cycle is about 14 days-so repeat all the rooms in turn), and be sure your pets don't have access to the room being treated.
Secure the lamp on the floor in the middle of the room. Put a cereal bowl with soapy water under the lamp. The fleas jump to the light, fall in the water, and the soap ruins the surface tension of the water, so they fall in and drown. Empty the bowl of dead fleas in the morning.
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Also, if you buy a large sack of diatomaceous earth, you are likely to end up with a granular product that is useless for flea control. Make sure that you get the dust.
I've been told by a retailer of the diatomaceous earth dust that you can avoid the need to wear a mask by mixing the dust with water and spraying it. This is probably more economical.
If anyone in Australia knows of a cheap supplier, can they post here?
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Below is a continuation of info on boric acid and DE. I think the 1st part of the comment is below in the next comment box....?
Continuing:
Use a mask and put the animals out of the way because it does make 'dust clouds'. The fleas will begin to diminish immediately but you won't be rid of all of them for around 5-6 weeks because it does'nt kill one of the stages of their metamorphsis. But I've had a flea in my bed and sprinkled some DE in my bed as I'm thrashing around in the middle of the night and the flea immediately vanished. It is a big job treating the house but well worthwhile. :o)
Original Message:
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Here is a copy of some info I wrote that is in another section - to help with details on DE (and boric acid):
I have only used boric acid (orthoboric acid' it will say on label) to do my home completely. I put it in a sieve and sprinkle it all over. Then rake it well into the carpet with a plastic leaf rake. Get it into the edges and corners of kiitchens,etc. What you can still see afterwards, must be vacuumed up. Use 1 lb.per 100 sq.feet. Then I get a container - like that used for baby powder - one that you can squeeze so the boric acid poofs out into corners and hard to reach places - even into the corners of the furniture. You can vacuum all you want and shampoo (except for commercial shampooing) and it will cling to the carpet for many months. DE affects the critters in the same manner (dehydrates and cuts up like many tiny razor blades) so I would use it the same way. I use the DE on my matteress and animal beds - furniture - floors, yard,etc. Next year when I run out of boric acid I'll use the DE alone. I just happened to have learned about the boric acid first. You Cannot put boric acid on animals but you Can use DE on animals. It is extremely drying to skin so careful with animals with skin problems. DE is a lot cheaper too. While applying either of these, they say do Not inhale. Use a mask and remove animals from area because it does make'dust clouds'. I'm out of space so will finish this in a 2nd comment below.............
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Kris,
Although you don't want this stuff in your lungs or your pets to the extent of when you apply it, the "petsafe" stuff, particularly the foodgrade, will not harm your pets insides. We actually eat a fair amount of it as it is used to control insects in our food grain silos and so is in our cereals flour etc.
There was a comment earlier about borax, which works in the same way but is NOT recommended with cats or ferrets or other anbimals that grooms extensivly as it can lead to boric acid toxicity, and you may want to think twice about it if you have a floor dwelling child with toys that willbe picking it off the floor. Toxicity is rare but DE is a safer alternative if a dust mask is worn during application.
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