Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth:
An Alternative to Chemical Dewormers and External Parasite Treatment

(One should always consult a veterinary when making changes in their animal companion’s diet. For a consultation with a veterinarian who has experience with feeding diatomaceous earth we recommend Dr. Donna Starita of A Place for Healing 503.658.0316 or info@donnastarita.com.)

There isn’t a doubt in my mind that we all want what is best for our animals. No one gives their animal a treatment or supplement and thinks, "I sure hope this makes him sick." We provide treatments and supplements for our animals with the intention of making them healthier. The problem is that not only do many “experts” disagree on what is the safest and best form of treatment when it comes to deworming and external parasite control, but also there is a financial motivation by the companies producing the products to keep us believing that we need them and that their products are what’s best for our animals. When choosing a product to give our animals, I think an important and often overlooked question is how does this affect the planet as a whole? The chemicals we put into our horses to kill their internal parasites every eight weeks end up back in our soil and watersheds, which means ultimately back into us.

The use of Diatomaceous Earth as an internal and external parasite control is not a new concept. It has been used in China for over 400 years. It is important to note that there are two types of diatomaceous earth: You should only feed food grade diatomaceous earth, as the other type is commonly used in pool filtration systems and can have all kinds of other additives in it. When purchasing DE (as it is commonly referred to) if it does not say "food grade" then assume it is not and avoid using it or putting it on your animal. Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. How it works is that the fine powder absorbs lipids from the waxy outer layer of insects' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate. The parasite basically dies as a result of the water pressure deficiency. Additionally, diatomaceous earth stimulates basic metabolism, converts feed better, keeps fly larvae from developing in manure (which helps reduce fly population), helps detox heavy metals, contains minerals, parasites can not become immune to it like they do with chemical dewormers and it is a cost-effective way to control pests,
which enhances rather than harms the planet.

One of the things that most surprised me when I first began using DE on my animals is how much softer their coat hair became. That’s saying quite a bit since many people have commented on how soft my horses and cats coats tend to be over the years. Even my mares and foal that wintered outside without blankets became silky-soft as though they had been blanketed and recently bathed. Two of my horses' coats darkened and took on a deeper, richer hue.

How much DE should you feed your pets? I found once again that everyone seem to have a different opinion on this so I would refer you back to the beginning of the article with Dr. Starita’s contact info. I will share with you my experiences, but there are definite variables which may not make it the right course for you to take with your animal companion.

I began with sprinkling DE on the raw meat my cats get twice per day and then decreasing down to once per day using a tablespoon. With the cats I just kind of eyeball it. I have six cats, all feral rescues, and only one of them has been picky about eating it. She gets it mixed in with tuna, but you can try milk, yogurt, or a favorite canned cat food. I started out small and built up the amount I gave her.

I give the dogs about a tablespoon daily for the Great Danes and half for the other smaller dogs after an initial twice a day uploading dose.

The horses, on the other hand, get a one-ounce scoop twice per day; the Welsh pony gets ½ to ¾ and the stallions get a little over a scoop. My feeling is start out small and then build from there. I have seen people recommend up to a cup a feeding for horses. I believe the amount of DE needed is influenced by the overall health of the animal, so animals receiving high quality nutritional food will not need nearly as much or as frequently as those that aren't getting the proper vitamins and minerals. I realize that having regular fecal exams can be cost prohibitive, but it is an excellent way to know for certain if you need to add more or use less in your animals diet. It is also typically recommended to feed for at least 60 days to get the full life cycle of the parasite. I continue to use it daily since I really like the benefits it provides. For the most effective parasite control it is recommended that the manure be removed off the fields and areas where the horses are.

How to find a good quality DE? There are plenty of places online selling food grade DE for various prices. If you are in the Eugene area we have a variety of sizes of sample bags available for $3 and $5 which are available at our monthly fundraisers. Our next fundraiser date is Saturday, April 23rd from 12-4.