The W’s of Diatomaceous Earth
You’ve heard of SuperFoods, but have you heard of the super Diatomaceous Earth? Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is very good for your pup inside and out! DE is crushed fossils of organisms and marine life called diatoms. What makes them special is that the skeletons are made of silica, something very common in nature; but we will be talking about Diatomaceous Earth specifically and its benefits for dogs.
There are a lot of great case uses for Diatomaceous Earth. Beginning with; it can eliminate parasites! Not all, of course. But internally it works against roundworms, whipworms, pinworms, and hookworms. It can work as quickly as a week, but feeding your pet for up to a month can get rid of newly hatched eggs. And how does this work? Well, DE has razor sharp particles which are harmless to dogs but lethal to these parasites. The sharp edges cut through the outer shell of the invaders before it can attach to intestinal lining and dehydrates them, thus killing them. This does not include heart-worms, which is something you should absolutely be speaking with your vet about!
Adding to this protection is that Diatomaceous Earth also absorbs many toxins that come into our dog’s systems throughout their day like e.coli, endotoxins, viruses, organophosphate pesticide residues, drug residues, and proteins. What is amazing about DE and how it works with the system is so small and powerful. A lot of these harmful toxins have positive charges as they enter, DE is a semi-conductive mineral so that it can become negatively charged when warmed with body heat! This makes the DE act like a magnet and absorbs harmful things, then passes them through the digestive tract and right on out!
But wait, there’s more! Diatomaceous Earth may be mostly silica, but also has some amounts of other minerals like magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, potassium, copper, zinc, phosphorus, and selenium. When used as a supplement, DE can cleanse the digestive tract, help with better sleep, give our pup more energy, improve hair, skin, and nails, and can even improve cholesterol! As a matter of fact, DE is known to be great for helping when our dog has bad breath!
Diatomaceous Earth is such a healthy supplement, it really is so great for being so unknown. DE works great for cleansing out the digestive tract of parasites and viruses that contribute to inflammation and illness. It also helps reduce digestive discomforts like gas and bloating. Another great thing about DE is that it can be used externally. To fight against fleas and other pests, you can dust your dogs skin, as well as, sprinkle in the bedding and floor. It has the same abilities to help get rid of pests. Just let it sit for a short time and then clean away. Diatomaceous Earth: the fossil, the mineral, the legend.
