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Emma here –
just wanted to let you know that even with the
cold, winter weather we're not free from fleas
and ticks. Bet you didn’t know that, did you?
I didn't. I thought the cold temps would kill
those pesky critters.
So, what do
you do when you have kids in the house, other
dogs and/or cats and want to ensure that
everyone is safe and you don't have to leave
home for days? Well, there are lots of popular
chemical treatments out there for insects and
parasites but they could hurt us and our
humans. These treatments are available at your
local pet stores and/or feed stores and I'm sure
your humans have seen them. But, most of them
are not safe for you to stay in the house or the
yard while the chemicals are present and in the
air. They may even be harmful to your humans.
There is a
safe way that has been successfully used to
eliminate a variety of environmental
infestations including fleas, ticks, scorpions,
flies, ants, bed bugs and cockroaches, yet it is
still safe for plants, pets, kids and beneficial
bugs. It's Diatomaceous earth. Not the kind
that your humans may use for your swimming pool
filter, but a 100% Food Grade of Diatomaceous
Earth.
Diatomaceous
earth is a powder comprised of micro skeletons
of deceased diatoms, which are a type of algae.
Now that's interesting. So how does this 100%
food grade diatomaceous earth work?
Your humans
should sprinkle the powder on your pets (that
includes us goldens), and around your house, and
the insects will die from dehydration. When
applied to the animal's fur, Diatomaceous earth
scrubs on the hard exoskeletons of insects. The
tiny granules of silicon work in the tiny holes
of the insect's respiratory system and in the
joints of the insect. Every time the insect
moves or breathes, the silicon grinds away at
the exoskeleton. This eventually kills the
insect through blocking/maiming the respiratory
holes or by water loss, as the exoskeleton helps
keep in the insect's body water.
What about
ants, ticks, fleas, aphids, silverfish,
cockroaches, scorpions, bed bugs, carpet
beetles, slugs, snails, tomato hornworm, house
flies, fruit flies, red spider mites and earwigs
?
For these
your humans can sprinkle the food grade
diatomaceous earth around indoor and outdoor
areas. Be sure to brush it down into carpet
base while also applying to baseboards, cracks,
pet's bedding and under furniture. Since it is
safe to use directly on your pet, around
children, plants, food or added to dry goods you
can repeat as often as needed, especially after
the area gets wind blown, wet or vacuumed.
A 100% food
grade of diatomaceous earth is veterinarian
approved and carried at some vet offices. This
veterinarian approved method can be used on or
near puppies, kittens, dogs, ferrets, horses,
sheep, chicken, gaming birds, pigs and cows,
when used as directed.
Some
references for Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth -
http://www.preciouspets.org/diatomaceousearth/
http://www.critterchat.net/diearth.htm
http://bugrepel.com/diatomaceous_earth.htm
Stay safe out
there.
Emma (aka Ms
January 2011) |
