Diatomaceous earth to treat fleas?

[Ginger's Mom]

Ashley, you may want to post this in the General Section. I have a very vague recollection of this being discussed in the past, and for some reason I think it was Richard who had some knowledge or experience with it. I did a search but couldn't find anything. Maybe someone else will remember.

[Freckles]

Try a search for that word. It looks like it's good for killing some things, but not fleas.

[Giselle]

Isn't that used for killing slugs? I remember this topic being discussed as well, and I believe the consensus was that it isn't effective as fleas will merely jump over the substance. The best way to get rid of a flea infestation, in my experience, is just to find a day for major cleaning. Get a steam-carpet cleaner, throw all the dog beds in the wash, and you should be two steps ahead of the game

[Catlady711]

I'm not familiar with that substance. And I'm not as familiar with Advantage, however Frontline Plus has an extra ingredient that when the animal sheds hair/dandruf it takes that ingredient into your carpets/furniture to help stop the larva stage of fleas, as well as the main ingredient in Frontline Plus also kills adult fleas on the pet. The ingredient Fipronil in Frontline Plus is the same ingredient used in fruit orchards in the US since the 1980's it's very safe. Frontline Plus is pricey, but actually less expensive than using a myrad of other more chemical methods that only partially solve the problem or just plain don't work.

Either way, if fleas are biting people it's a BAD flea problem and could take up to a year or more of regularly treating the pets to get it back under control. Vacuuming alot (throwing away the sweeper bag), washing pet bedding will all help also, but that alone will never stop it. A single female flea lays 2,000 egss in her short lifetime, and fleas can live for months as larva stages in your carpets.

[shais_mom]

I tried looking into that but couldn't find it around here. You can try the laundry additive - BORAX. I used that this summer and it was excellent!

[ChrisH]

I use it for ant control. Googled and found this about use for fleas (scroll down a little). http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/no_flea.html
One thing to remember when using, for oneself or animal, is to avoid breathing in the dust or getting it in the eyes. Ingesting is safe so if your dog or car licks it there isn't a problem (some people put it in food for worm control)

[binka_nugget]

Thanks for your responses guys.

I went out and bought it anyways since it was really cheap ($6.50 for enough to do the entire basement). I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Catlady711: The Frontline Plus sounds great.. but it isn't sold in Canada.