Safe Dosage of Diatomaceous Earth for Dogs: What to Know

Okay, so I’ve been dealing with some stuff with my dogs lately, and I wanted to share my experience with using diatomaceous earth. It’s been a real journey, let me tell you.

It all started when I noticed one of my pups, Buster, scratching more than usual. At first, I thought it was just regular dog stuff, but then it got worse. And then my other dog, Daisy, started scratching too. I was like, “Oh no, what’s going on here?” I took them to the vet, and after some tests, it turned out they had fleas. Ugh, the dreaded “F” word. I was not happy about that and really felt so bad for my furry babies.

The vet recommended some treatments, but I’m always a bit hesitant about using harsh chemicals on my dogs. So I started doing some research online, looking for more natural alternatives. That’s when I stumbled upon this thing called diatomaceous earth, or DE for short. I read that it could help with fleas, and some people even use it as a dewormer. Sounded promising, right?

I decided to give it a try. First, I made sure to get the food-grade kind, because apparently, there’s another type that’s not safe for pets. I ordered it online, and when it arrived, I was a little intimidated by the big bag of white powder. It looked like a science experiment or something, haha.

Now, figuring out the right dosage was the next challenge. I read that it depends on your dog’s size, which makes sense. I mean, Buster is a big boy, while Daisy is more petite. I found some general guidelines online, but to be honest, I was still a bit nervous about getting it right. It seems like everyone has a different opinion.

I started with a small amount. For Buster, I mixed about one tablespoon of DE into his food. For Daisy, I used about half a tablespoon. I did this once a day. I also sprinkled some of the DE on their bedding and in areas where they hang out a lot. It was a bit messy, I won’t lie. My house looked like it had been lightly dusted with flour. But I was determined to get rid of those pesky fleas.

• First week, I didn’t notice much difference. The dogs were still scratching, and I was starting to doubt this whole DE thing.
• But I kept at it, and by the second week, I started to see some improvement. The scratching seemed to be less frequent.
• By the third week, it was a noticeable change. Both Buster and Daisy seemed much more comfortable. They were playing more and sleeping better, which was a huge relief for me.

I continued the treatment for a few more weeks, just to be sure. I also kept up with vacuuming and washing their bedding regularly. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it to see my pups happy and healthy again.

My conclusion.

Overall, I’d say my experience with diatomaceous earth was positive. It took some time and effort, but it did seem to help with the flea problem. Plus, I felt good about using a more natural approach. It also helped with their digestion, I noticed their poop was healthier, too! Would I recommend it? Yeah, I think so. But it’s important to do your research, use the food-grade kind, and be patient. It’s not an instant fix, but it can be a good option for dealing with fleas and maybe even other issues like parasites. Just my two cents!

I’m no expert, but I’m always happy to share my experiences, especially when it comes to our furry friends. If you’ve used diatomaceous earth for your dogs, I’d love to hear about it. Maybe we can all learn something from each other!