Flea Problem - Diatomaceous Earth

[Kent67]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone has any experience using diatomaceous earth to control fleas in the home. Our neighbor introduced us to the idea and it sounds great as there are no chemicals involved but the small-sized particles of silica have me a bit worried about using them around the reptiles. It is supposed to be safe to put on dogs and cats, have in your carpet, even to eat it, but I worry about the potential for respiratory problems with the chams.

 

[AJA]

It is a very fine powder. I put it in my carpet but when you go to vaccum it can clog up your filters. I puy it on the animals itself and it made them all dusty.. If you are going to use it, use it outside. Unfortuneately it will get the 'good' bugs as well as the 'bad' ones.

I think if you were very careful with it, it would be okay.

I found a rea$onable source for Front Line / Advantage on line that I finally had to use on my pack. PM me if you want that website.

 

[Kent67]

Well, I forgot to mention the fleas seem to be immune to Advantage now. We just put it on them maybe 10 days ago and they're already covered again. I was going to pick up some Frontline today but when I used it in the past it seemed pretty weak compared to Advantage so I'm not very hopeful.
We need something that will kill them in the house too, though. They're particularly bad in our bed room on chairs and in the bed. If I use the diatomaceous earth, I won't put it in the chameleon room but still worried about drafts, etc carrying it in there. You never noticed any problems with the smaller animals in the house when you used it?

 

[AJA]

It reminds me of talcom powder or baby powder, it is that fine. You just can't throw it everywhere, you need to sprinkle it low to the carpet and of course keep the drafts down. Don't snort it either...

Yeah, I have a 'few' dogs and I have to vacuum twice a week and wash the bedding once a week to stay on top of it. I banished my cat from the house which helped because he was the one out prowling in the bushes where the fleas where hanging out and bringing them back into the house. The lazy dogs would stay inside all day and sleep.

My neice made up an herbal flea carpet treatment and I think she said she used salt in it to dry up the flea eggs that were laid in the carpet.

I hate using flea bombs.

 

[Pure]

Kent for what it's worth, I've read about this being used to control mites in snake cages. The people using it have not posted any health problems from it, respiratory or other wise.

 

[Kent67]

Really?!? That makes me a LOT more comfortable using it, especially if it isn't going in their room. Thanks!