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Over the years, I've heard about the benefits and risks of using diatomaceous earth (food grade) with our dogs. I received some from a brand and was excited to try it, especially after a representative shared that she takes it daily in her tea, or a glass of water or juice. But, is diatomaceous earth safe?

pronunciation lesson: diatomaceous – dia-to-may-shush

What is Diatomaceous Earth?

Diatomaceous earth is created from the fossilized remains of teeny aquatic creatures that are called diatoms.  Their skeletons are made from silica, which is a natural substance that accumulates in the sediment of bodies of water.

Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth

As far as I could tell, none of these benefits have been studied extensively and seem to be mostly anecdotal.

• Natural detox
• Natural weight loss supplement
• Strengthens hair, skin, nails, and teeth
• Colon cleanse
• Joint health and tissue regeneration
• Lower high blood pressure
• Lower cholesterol
• Stimulates metabolism
• Reduces and removes age spots
• And on and on and on

How Much Diatomaceous Earth Did I Consume?

I’ve read that some people mix a spoonful in their drink (coffee, tea, juice, etc. ) daily.  Some people treat it as a natural detox and take it for 7 to 30 days.  How long the detox takes depends on the person.  There aren't any hard and fast rules on this that agree – surprise surprise – beyond that diatomaceous earth has amazing health benefits when ingested by humans and animals.

When I tried a DE detox, I started by mixing a spoonful in my morning tea daily, and it didn't take long for me to feel more relaxed, happier, lighter, and more energized.  And I lost weight (I also reduced my daily caloric intake and increased my exercise). Placebo effect? Probably.

How Does Diatomaceous Earth Taste?

There is no taste, just a texture.  Like dust on your tongue.  Have you ever been caught in a breeze of blowing dirt and some got in your mouth?  That’s it.  It doesn’t dissolve in liquid like sugar, so you have to keep stirring it, or it’ll settle at the bottom.

What are the Side Effects of Diatomaceous Earth

A Warning About Detoxing

When I initially researched using diatomaceous earth, I didn't find any negative side effects online or when speaking to people who take it.  When I tried it as a detox, one thing I experienced was the feeling that I was coming down with a cold.  I never quite got there, but I would feel light flu or cold symptoms for a couple of hours, and then they’d go away.  This happened for two days.  It’s part of the detox, and I’ve experienced this in the past with other detox programs.

When it comes to detoxing, I believe that my body will naturally detox, so I didn't keep up with the DE. However, in speaking with friends years after I originally wrote this post, I was told that using DE as a detox isn't to be done over an extended period of time.

I have read that using DE to help your system detox isn't effective because the moment the diatomaceous earth gets wet, it ceases to work. This is why it's not recommended to dust your garden at sunrise – we're advised to wait until the dew evaporates first.

A Warning About Respiratory Health

For dogs, I haven't heard of any side effects when fed to dogs. Some of my friends have used DE successfully to treat worms in kittens and puppies (I can't recall which type). This isn't something I'm recommending nor is this something I've done with my dogs.

For external uses (carpet cleaning, flea killer, pest control), the biggest concern is breathing DE into the lungs. Because this is a drying product (that's how it kills fleas), the warning I most often see is that once breathed into the body, the diatomaceous earth can negatively impact our lungs. I have dusted my dogs with DE as a flea deterrent, staying far away from their face. However, this doesn't prevent them (or me) from breathing it into our lungs.

Essential oils and coconut oil are safe and effective alternatives.

A Warning About Appliances and Vacuum Cleaners

When using diatomaceous earth on carpets and rugs, it's advised to vacuum up the DE with a shop vac or a vacuum cleaner that has a high-quality HEPA filter. Otherwise, vacuum cleaners may get clogged with the powder, which may destroy the motor.

A Warning About Bees

I welcome bees on our property as a sign that all is well with the world (or as well as can be) and don't want to do anything to reduce their population. Diatomaceous earth will negatively impact our local bee populations and should be avoided.

More Reading About Diatomaceous Earth

• Evaluation of diatomaceous earth as an adjunct to sheep parasite control in organic farming – IOWA State University
• Effect of diatomaceous earth as an anthelmintic treatment on internal parasites and feedlot performance of beef steers – Cambridge.org

Both of these studies failed to show that diatomaceous earth is effective with regard to parasite control.

Is Diatomaceous Earth a Natural Flea Killer?

When it comes to fleas, from what I read, the dry (and it has to remain dry) diatomaceous earth sticks to the flea’s endoskeleton and dries them out.  You can dust your dogs with them, dust their bedding, or dust the yard.  Keep in mind that morning dew renders it ineffective because it has to stay dry – so I doubt that we’ll be doing this unless we hit a dry spell here in the Pacific Northwest.

A holistic vet whom I respect uses diatomaceous earth in the yard, but not on her dogs because she shared that minimal vaccinations and a raw food diet make dogs less appealing to fleas.

Trying Diatomaceous Earth on My Dogs

For a brief time, I did use diatomaceous earth with my dogs. I sprinkled it on their meals, I dusted it on their coats, and I dusted their bedding and carpeting. After reading more about DE, I ceased using it and do the following instead:

Flea Repellent: I use Kin+Kind and other natural products on my dogs. Although raw feeding doesn't guarantee that our dogs won't get fleas, in my case, the diet does appear to make my dogs less appealing because we don't struggle with fleas. #knockonwood We also live on a property that is perpetually in the sunshine (very little shade), which also makes flea control easier.

We removed a lot of the carpet where the dogs hang out and I sweep, vacuum, and mop every other day to keep the house clean. If I suspect fleas, I put the dogs in the yard for the day and use Febreze on all fabric surfaces to kill fleas. No joke, it works. Febreze isn't something I use regularly in our home (I prefer essential oils), but it's a great alternative to flea bombs.

Natural Detox: I fast my dogs regularly to encourage a natural detox. I also use products by Adored Beast Apothecary for gut health and liver support, which keeps their system healthy. And, not to sound like a broken record, but feeding a diet of fresh food helps too.

Debugging My Garden: For flower and vegetable gardens, I plant rosemary, lavender, lemon balm, and citronella to keep bugs away. For slugs, I dry and grind eggshells to sprinkle in my garden. This keeps the slug population down while adding nutrients to the soil. It's not a perfect solution but it works for me.

Although I appreciate that there may be some benefits to diatomaceous earth, I think the risks far outweigh those benefits and I've chosen not to use this natural product with my dogs.

Have you tried diatomaceous earth?

Read More About How I Repel Fleas

• 5 Natural Alternatives to Seresto Collars for Dogs
• 10 Common Flea Myths
• Plants that Repel Fleas
• 13 Essential Oils Recipes for Dogs