Is diatomaceous earth safe for my dog's flea and tick control?

So every product should have a safety label on the packaging to let you know if it is tested for pet safety as a general guideline. And according to the safety precautions for diatomaceous earth, only the non-food grade DE is harmful to not only pets but to people if exposed over a 40 hr period. The Food grade DE (diatomaceous earth) is not considered harmful. So make sure to check your label to see which kind you have. Here is a website link that goes more in detail https://www.diatomaceousearth.com/blog/be-sure-to-follow-these-de-safety-precautions/

Most veterinary approved flea products such as Frontline and Advantage are safe to use around children. If you do use a topical product, be sure to just wash your hands and your children's hands if they pet your dogs around the area that is affected to keep from ingesting any product. If you are concerned about the use of a topical coming into contact with your children, oral products are available direct through a veterinarian. Products such as Capstar are a pill given in oral form that can help kill fleas within 24 hours. For your household, keeping the house clean and vacuumed, washing any affected bedding and keeping your pets on a preventive medication will help to keep the flea population away. DIatomaceous Earth (food grade) can also be used to naturally kill fleas through dehydration, and is not harmful to humans or pets. It can be sprinkled around the environment to kill fleas and flea eggs in it. A simple shampoo of Dawn dish soap and a flea comb can also be used to kill fleas on the body and make them easier to remove without the use of harmful chemicals.

Yes, the products can be used together. Zodiac flea and tick powder can be quite irritating to a dog's eyes, nose, throat and lungs and is a very harsh chemical, so it is not my favorite method of flea control. I much prefer using a topical spot-op or oral flea and tick prevention which will work better and likely be safer and less irritating for Alice. The oral tablets are safe, but are likely not as effective as the other products on the market. I am attaching a handout below on flea control and a second one that has a link to current flea products on the market for dogs that might be helpful for you. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951999 https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952808 Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Both of those should be safe if applied to the outer coat. However, they will not effectively prevent fleas and ticks. The best way to prevent external parasites is by using a product from your vet. There are newer products like Bravecto and Nexgard that are oral tablets that prevent fleas/ticks for 30 days. This is the best way to keep your dog parasite free.

The good thing is that this is a rather safe product for Blu to have eaten. The biggest concern is if he inhaled some, because it can be quite irritating to the lungs. If he is coughing excessively, then it would be good to take him to the vet for treatment. If he is otherwise acting normal, then no need to worry much. Diatomaceous earth has actually been fed to dogs before in hopes that it helps with certain infections and is not toxic. The only concern would be that he ate enough to cause a blockage in the stomach or intestine. You would know that it's causing a blockage if Blu is vomiting and acting painful/lethargic. In this case you would need to take him to the vet for emergency treatment. I hope that helps and all is well with Blue.

No, I personally would not recommend putting this on your dogs. It's not labeled for use in dogs to kill fleas, not will it provide lasting flea protection. I can give you a flea treatment program for your dogs that is both safe and effective. First, I would give them Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash their bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use the Sevin dust on the carpet, follow the package instructions.

I occasionally see toxicity issues with some of the over-the-counter topical flea products like Hartz, Sergeant's, etc. - this is more commonly a problem in cats, but can sometimes be an issue with small dogs as well, especially if they've been dosed above their weight range. All of the prescription flea/tick medications currently on the market (Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica, etc.) are quite safe and effective.