Diatomaceous Earth for Dogs

Diatomaceous earth is a fine, white powder that is 100% non toxic and safe for dogs and offers many benefits to owners. Find out top 7 benefits in this article. 

One of the greatest things that I discovered when taking care of my previous pack of rescue dogs was diatomaceous earth (silicon dioxide) - it is 100% natural, safe and not only that, it is easy to find and offers a healthy, affordable solution for many doggie issues.
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So, let's see what can diatomaceous earth help you with? 

Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth for Dogs - 

1. Diatomaceous earth for Dog Worms & Parasites - Add some DE (food grade) directly to your dog's food bowls daily for a month as full 30 days is recommended to help get rid of worms and parasites including newly hatched eggs. Diatomaceous earth is excellent as it can easily starve the worms and parasites and completely heal your dog's tummy of infestation.

DE is excellent for prevention and healing from the roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, ringworms, pinworms and hookworms so in short, add it to your dog's meals and see the difference in your dog's health and appetite. 

2. Diatomaceous earth for Puppies - We all know that puppies love to eat and pick whatever they can get in their tiny, little, cute mouths  - from tree leaves to barks to rolling their little cute nosey-ies in the grass and soil, they are excellent at picking up worms and having parasites in their little tummies!

When my little puppy came to me, I knew she had worms - I could see tapeworms in her poo so I kept her away from other dogs and immediately started her on my anti-worm and parasite protocol.

One of the things I ordered right away was Diatomaceous Earth and started giving her daily and thankfully, she no longer has worms plus she has perfect poop day after day, not to mention great appetite, healthy skin and coat and she is full of energy. 

Diatomaceous Earth is super safe for puppies so if you have a new puppy, you might want to consider adding it to their meals daily.

3. Diatomaceous Earth for Healthy Bones, Joints & Teeth in Dogs - DE is rich in silica and calcium which is crucial for healthy bones and teeth plus it can be a great addition to senior dog's diet to help with arthritis, stiffness and mobility issues as well as for healthy strong teeth.

4. Diatomaceous Earth for Fleas & Ticks in Dogs - DE is a 100% natural, safe and healthy flea and tick prevention treatment for dogs. If your area has too many fleas and ticks or your dog has flea infestation then you can rub  some DE slowly and gently in your dog's coat to prevent fleas and ticks especially when going for long walks, hikes, camping, beach and travel trips.

Diatomaceous Earth is so effective that it will kill fleas, flea eggs, larvae, ticks, mites, lice and any invisible parasites or microbes that are on your dog's skin or coat - so use it with confidence and a smile. It is a God sent!

NOTE - Make sure when sprinkling DE on your dog, you avoid the eye, ears, mouth and the nose area. Secure your dog on a leash if you must to avoid the dog moving too much and then gently rub a little bit of DE onto your dog's coat. Don't over do it as DE can be drying so be aware of that. 

5. Diatomaceous Earth for Dog Bedding, Carpets, Rugs, Etc. - Sprinkle around your dog's bedding, carpet, couches and rugs and after an hour or so or you can leave it overnight if you have serious flea infestation and you can then vacuum it. Keep your dogs away when doing this - perhaps have them in the crates and then do this. backyard or other areas where you find fleas and bugs.

​Just don't tell your so-called 'amazing vet' about it since their pharma sponsored flea and tick control or worm and parasite medicine can't compete with diatomaceous earth!!

6. Diatomaceous Earth for Dog's Health, Digestion & Appetite - DE will boost your dog's overall health, digestion and appetite by eliminating toxins, pathogens like worms and parasites as well as heavy metals in the dog's body.

DE is often used as a colon cleanser and therefore due to its excellent detoxifying properties it can strengthen the body by boosting its immunity and thus overall health.

7. Diatomaceous Earth for Boosting Minerals in Your Dog's Diet -  Diatomaceous earth is rich in minerals like calcium, silica, magnesium and trace minerals so adding it to your dog's diet will boost your dog's health greatly. 

When Buying Diatomaceous Earth, Look For - 

When buying, make sure it is Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth - it MUST say clearly on the packet that you are buying Food Grade and it should be the only ingredient with nothing else mixed in it. It must also be 'fresh water sourced' to be of highest quality, made in the country you reside and avoid buying one that comes in plastic containers - buy a bag instead.

Some Other Points to Remember -

-When dusting your dog's skin and coat with it, make sure you or your dog don't breathe it in - take time, be patient and take little bit in your fingertips and rub it in slowly on your dog's coat and repeat. This is only for those dogs who have flea infestation or too much itchy skin due to mites or have balding spots due to vet's prescriptions and so on.

-For all other dogs, just adding a little bit daily to their meals is enough.

-When adding to your dog's meals, make sure to mix the powder with something else like pumpkin puree or soft, cooked sweet potatoes or carrots so that it is NOT in powder form when digested by your dog as it can really irritate the throat area otherwise.

In general, you must always make sure you mix any supplemental powders (including DE) with something like a wet puree so that it becomes more palatable and easier to take for your dog (versus being dry and irritating to the mouth and the throat area). 

-While DE is super safe and has been used for centuries for dogs, it is always a good idea to monitor your dog for any negative side-effects. 

-You may also consult your holistic vet before giving DE to your dog if you like. 

Dosage -

Small dogs or puppies - 1/3 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon

Medium dogs - 1/2 teaspoon

Large dogs - 1 teaspoon

Note that what I am giving you here is a very conservative dose. Most articles and many dog owners use higher dosage of DE like about 1 tablespoon per 10 lbs. but I still recommend you start with lower dose and if you need to then you can gradually increase it slightly more overtime. 

Which One Do I Buy or Recommend? - 

Just for reference - this is the one that I buy (not associated with the company).

It helps me save money and since I give it to all my dogs, the large bag lasts a while.

Brand - Harris (U.S.) and can be found in Walmart, Target,  Home Depot, etc.

With all these benefits of DE for your dog, it's time to invest in a bag of food grade DE and start giving it to your dog. 

-Somya.