Sorry, 100 lbs for the dogs with the 1/2 teaspoon. small dogs would go by 1/8's in weight, for a really bad case use on a 100lb dog 1/2 teaspoon DE and a 1/8 teaspoon yellow sulpher internally on food is easiest, this will clear the path for the daily DE food add;)
june Neill
http://iherdalpacas.etsy.com/
http://iherdalpacas.blogspot.com/
----- Original Message -----
From: june neill
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009 12:29 PM
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: Fleas
1/2 teaspoon of foodgrade DE into food daily(and this is very important) will keep the stomach ph at about 7, perfect to rid of all worms as they cannot live in this enviroment. Dust the outside of the animal with 50/50 DE and yellow sulpher kills everything;) yes it will give the impression of very dry skin but will bath out and bring the skin and hair back to normal;) or will eventually shake and wear off.
june Neill
http://iherdalpacas.etsy.com/
http://iherdalpacas.blogspot.com/
----- Original Message -----
From: houckj@aol.com
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009 12:04 PM
Subject: [AlpacaTalk] RE: Fleas
<<<<Ah-ha! How I've battled fleas!
First thing is you need to get rid of the fleas or you're only
fighting an endless battle.
Twenty Mule Team Borax (a laundry soap) is excellent -- and non-
toxic! -- way to rid house of fleas. Sprinkle it liberally
everywhere the house pets sleep and/or rest...that means carpets,
furniture, and beds. Vacuum 24 to 36 hours later and throw dirt into
plastic bag tied at top and placed in trash container away from
house. Do not ever leave dirt in vacuum; fleas will get out.
Reapply the Borax in the house. The Borax dehydrates the fleas and
you shouldn't have to reapply after the second time for at least a
year unless you shampoo your carpet.>>>>
As I was reading this I was already wording my reply to let you know
that DE does the same thing.....I used to use it in my house before the
flea treatments came out that we have today - Frontline and Advantage.
But, ugh, what a mess.
Then I got to the next paragraph :-). So why are you not just using DE
in house as well, instead of the Borax? I am pretty sure somewhere
along the way I have read/heard that Borax is toxic. But if not and if
it is less expensive, which I am sure it must be, then why not use that
outside as well, where the cats lie, etc. I wouldn't waste it outside
where the rain and dew will wash it away, but do think I should be
sprinkling it around in the barn loft where they sleep. It doesn't
actually dehydrate the adult fleas tho, just the larvae......fleas have
a very hard body that the DE doesn't affect. So there is a lag time
between sprinkling that around and seeing any improvement....the adult
fleas have to die on their own. Perhaps an Advantage/Frontline
treatment and sprinkling of the DE at the same time would be the best
attack plan. I have wondered about rubbing the animal down with DE, but
worry about how much that would dry out their skin so have never tried
that. With the cats, they would lick it off and so get their internal
worming taken care at the same time!
<<<Outside I would sprinkle DE liberally where the cats spend the most
time and where the indoor pets might lie (garden, door mats, etc).
Then I would add DE to the food of all the cats and dog. (Someone
else will have to tell you how much because I haven't used it, but
have heard it works well.)
Yes, the medication is expensive. The DE should work, too, and
shouldn't be as hard on the older animals' systems.
And actually once you get rid of the fleas so the animals aren't
being constantly re-infected their strong bodies should get rid of
the tapes over the course of time.>>>>
The tapeworm med, not matter what it is, even the OTC Safeguard for
dogs, IS expensive and you are right, it is a vicious cycle. I keep
putting that expensive Advantage or Frontline on him to treat for fleas.
Still he has fleas And tapes; haven't thought lately about using DE
*on* him. The more I think about it, the more sense that makes. Put DE
on him, sprinkle around in the barn loft where the outside cats sleep
and in the rugs where the dog sleeps inside and start adding some DE to
his food as well.....I wonder how much, someone here posted not too long
ago how much they give each of their animals, I am pretty sure I saved
that post, will have to try and find it - he is about 100#, getting on
in years. Then watch and wait before treating with the chemical tape
wormer. On the other hand, I hate thinking about him carrying this tape
load for so long. It can't be doing a thing good for his health, esp at
this age. But as much as we have been talking about DE here off and on
this year, it has only just now occurred to me that DE should be
effective internally against tapes as they are clearly a soft bodied creepy.
<<<<Hope this helps -
Cinda Young
Driwind Alpacas>>>>
Absolutely, thanks Cinda.
Warmly, Janice, still waiting for my DE to come in.
PS, there used to be a product for killing fleas outside, may still be
around, haven't really looked for it in a long time. It was dehydrated
organisms (can't remember what it was exactly) that you rehydrate in
your hose end sprayer and apply to your yard. They (the little
rehydrated critters) specifically eat flea larvae. I don't know how
effective it was/is as I have such a large "yard" that it was not
feasible for me to use, but it was supposed to be extremely effective
for about 3 mos as I recall.
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