Diatameceous Earth

Alyssum · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 19 Location: Wimberley Texas

What are the proper methods of applying Datameceous Earth upon my flea infested cats..............anyone?

Ray Brown · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 65 Location: Irving

Dont. It will dry the skin. Use boiled orange peals or Flea and Tick B Gone

ghochs · Joined: 28 Mar 2003 Posts: 35 Location: Richardson, TX

I put the DE in their food, Howard says about 1%, but I just sprinkle a teaspoonful on their canned food when I put it out, and it seems to work well.

jeffpcox · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 61 Location: Wylie

BUT MAKE SURE ITS NATURAL DE and NOT SWIMMING POOL DE. SWIMMING DE CAN KILL. SO MAKE SURE WHAT YOU HAVE..

Organe Peel, with water is good..and the Lice B Gone Products do well from what i've heard..

Kathe Kitchens · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 829 Location: Dallas,TX

I used Lice B Gone on my cat this spring and it worked beautifully. I sprayed it on, rubbed it in, and then wiped most of it off with a damp washcloth. Of course, you have to have a cooperative cat for this method. "Cooperative cat"? Was that an oxymoron? Yikes! Anyway, she complained a lot but cooperated enough for it to work. Good luck!

Nadine · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 1162 Location: Carrollton,TEXAS

Food grade DE should make up 2% of the total volume of your pet's food.

ayovich · Joined: 27 Jul 2003 Posts: 6

I have heard that people feed DE to horses for worm control, but then I've heard it can shred their intestines. Do you know?

Kathe Kitchens · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 829 Location: Dallas,TX

Never fed it to my own horses (since I dont' have any) but my dog & cat's food (Munster) has it as an ingredient and they are hale and hearty. My brother in law fed it to his cattle and they were always in great shape. I know other people who have fed it to their horses and are very happy with the results. Hope that info helps!
:D

horseranch · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 92 Location: Austin

We've fed a DE and herb mix to our horses for the last 4 years for parasit control, and they have thrived on it. Same with our cats and dogs. As someone else posted, it has to be food-grade DE - do NOT feed the stuff made for swimming pools. I've also heard that it's bad for birds - a friend killed a batch of chickens by feeding them some grain with DE mixed in.

Nadine · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 1162 Location: Carrollton,TEXAS

:arrow:

Nadine · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 1162 Location: Carrollton,TEXAS

horseranch wrote: ...it has to be food-grade DE - do NOT feed the stuff made for swimming pools. I've also heard that it's bad for birds - a friend killed a batch of chickens by feeding them some grain with DE mixed in.

:?: Are you sure it was food grade DE that killed those chickens?
I had a parakeet when I was younger and I remember feeding him some kind of chalky powder. It was a mineral of some sort, maybe DE.

horseranch · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 92 Location: Austin

Organic, yes, from what he told me - he uses food grade DE on his cattle, and some spilled onto the chickens' grain -- bye, bye chickens.

Bluestem · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Posts: 169 Location: N. Texas

My chickens have had no ill effects from DE. Neither have the cows, a horse or the dog. My cats will not eat if I put DE in there food. Goats love it, give it to them free choice.