Is Diatomaceous Powder Harmful to Pets?

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is not only harmless to pets, these microscopic fossils of one-celled plants are highly beneficial to pets. If added to the dog or cat food in the right amounts, it will worm them. Rubbed all over the pet's coat, DE will kill fleas and other pests. The sharp edges of the tiny fossils cut into the insect or worm's skin and then absorb its body fluids, causing death by dehydration. Keep in mind that only food grade DE should be used for pets. The other grade, for pool filtration purposes, is heat and chemical treated and is harmful to pets and livestock.

  1. Worming

    • Diatomaceous earth has been used for decades to worm pets and livestock. Add it to the animal's food or water in certain amounts for each type of animal. Puppies and kittens, for example, should get ½ tsp. of DE a day. Adult cats get 1 tsp., as do small dogs. Larger dogs require 1 tbsp. to effectively worm them. Dogs over 100 pounds need 2 tbsp. For livestock, the ration of DE is 2 percent of their dried feed. Chickens need DE as 5 percent of their total food intake. Horses get ½ cup to a cup daily. To be effective, DE must be given over a period of time to catch all newly hatching eggs in the worms cycle; a minimum of 60 days is recommended.

    External Pest Control

    • DE can be lightly sprinkled onto the coat of your pet and rubbed in to kill fleas, ticks, mites and lice. For best effect, shampoo the animal first and when it is completely dried, rub in the DE. Be careful not to inhale the powder yourself -- it is harmless to humans, but it can cause problems if breathed in heavily. Rub some DE into your cat's or dog's ears to kill mites. Sprinkle DE on your pet's bedding and anywhere your dog or cat hangs out. You can lightly sprinkle DE on your carpet and vacuum it up a day or two later. Use the DE on couches and chairs to kill fleas as well.

    Deodorizer/Absorber

    • Use DE freely in the cat's litter box to help absorb urine. DE will keep down the odors as well. If you have horses, cows, llamas or other livestock type animals as pets, sprinkle DE in the barn or stable to absorb puddles of urine. Use DE freely around the stable to keep down the population of crickets, ants, silverfish, roaches, flies and mites. Use it in the chicken coup and yard as well, dusting it around nesting boxes and on the ground.

    Trace Minerals

    • Natural food grade DE has 15 trace minerals: magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium, zinc iron, phosphorous, selenium and more. When added to your pet's food, the trace minerals in DE will give your pet a shinier coat and better overall health as it kills their internal parasites.