Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a natural way to control internal and external parasites in your pets. DE efficiently eliminates fleas, worms (roundworms, whipworms, pinworms, and hookworms) and bugs including mites, lice or bed bugs within a few of days.

At PAW PRINTZ we source Organic Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth, obtained from freshwater Australian mines only. It is a natural (not calcined or flux calcined) compound.

What is Diatomaceous Earth?
Diatomaceous earth is a remarkable, all-natural product made from tiny fossilised water plants or algae. DE is a naturally occurring siliceous sedimentary mineral compound from microscopic skeletal remains of unicellular algae-like plants called diatoms. These plants have been part of the earth’s ecology since prehistoric times. It is believed that 30 million years ago the diatoms built up into deep, chalky deposits of diatomite. The super-fine diatoms are mined and ground up to render a powder that looks and feels like talcum powder. The coarse ground is less dusty and looks like fine gravel consistency. DE is approximately 33% silicon, 19% calcium, 5% sodium, 3% magnesium, 2% iron plus many other trace minerals such as titanium, boron, manganese, copper and zirconium.

Diatomaceous earth is 100% ecologically safe to the environment and non-poisonous to man and animals. In fact, if you’ve eaten anything made with flour, you’ve most likely eaten DE. It’s used in commercial grain storage as a means of natural, poison-free insect control.

Superfine diatomaceous earth (<0.3mm) may be used for feeding to animals, dusting through animal’s coat or dusting house for pest control.

Coarse ground diatomaceous earth (1-2mm) may be used for feeding to livestock or poultry, dusting pens, greenhouse or outdoors on fruits, vegetables, flowers, grains and grass, up to and including the day of harvest.

Diatomaceous Earth can eliminate roundworms, whipworms, pinworms, and hookworms within seven days of being fed daily. To be most effective, DE should be fed for at least 30 days, to catch all newly hatching eggs or the cycling of the worms through the lungs and back to the stomach.

Another use for Diatomaceous Earth is the control of external parasites and flies. This is achieved by dusting your dog with DE, along with their bedding area and surrounding carpeted areas.

Animal Use – Suggested feeding and application rates:

• Cats – 1/2-1 teaspoon daily in moist food
• Dogs – daily in moist food
• – Small Dogs (3-9kg) – 1 teaspoon
• – Medium Dogs (10-24kg) – 1/2 tablespoon
• – Large Dogs (25-50kg) – 1-2 tablespoons
• Poultry – 5-10% of dry feed daily
• Goats – 1% in grain feed
• Miniature Ponies (<10hh) – 1/4 cup daily
• Ponies (11hh-14.2hh) – 1/2 cup daily
• Horses (14.3hh-17hh) – 1 cup daily

Directions:  Mix into moist food for up to 30 days.

CAUTION – avoid contact with eyes and avoid breathing in fine dust particles.

Around the home:
Outside areas – approx. 250g – 500g per 100 square metres (dry powder)
As a liquid spray – approx. 250g per 4 litres water

Diatomaceous earth can be used as a dust or spray for control of bed bugs,  fleas and other insects in buildings, on pasture, crops and trees. The most important thing to do when using food grade diatomaceous earth to treat fleas or bed bugs is to ensure it is applied in all the places they love to hide.

• Around the borders of all the rooms in your house
• Along the door frame
• Under all furniture
• Any gaps in the walls
• On all sides of mattress & base
• On edges of sofa cushions, as well as under them
• Around the edges of the carpet
• Behind picture frames & mirrors

It is best to leave the DE for two to five days before vacuuming up and applying a second coat. By vacuuming every few days, you help to get rid of eggs and dead insects.

To use as a spray – Mix up to 1kg of DE with 4 litres of water with a wetting agent. Be sure to keep mixture agitated. 

Trees – Sprinkle liberally on the ground around base of fruit trees. Tree trunks can also be painted with a mixture of DE, water and a wetting agent. This will inhibit migration of various fruit flies (maggot stage). When a spray is desired, refer to spray rates.

DE is completely harmless to animals, fish, fowl or food.

Food grade diatomaceous earth is safe to use for the home, yards, and animals.
Pool grade diatomaceous earth is altered by high heat and is only safe to use in pools. This should never be given to animals.