Sunday, April 29, 2007 - My Goatie Has Fleas... Can You Say Diatomaceous Earth?
My goat has fleas.
My goat has fleas.
Er... something like that.
Our goats have bugs....ewwwww!
I checked out the goat ring we belong to, and got some info. Some interesting info, actually.
Here is some of it, for your reading pleasure...
it's info about good 'ole, human - dish - cleansing - Dawn dishwashing liquid:
*really* ewwww...
kathy wrote:
Wash your goat with either dawn dish soap or iviry dish soap.I am checking right now to find out which.
Kathy
It's dawn, fleas and people both can eat ivory.
Can everyone say "Insecticide"?
Ok class, today's lesson is:
Do NOT wash your dishes that you will be cooking with and eating from with "Insecticide".
"Insecticide."
Other interesting info:
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In dogs we use lemon Joy dish soap to wash them. It will kill the fleas, but only 10% are actually on the animal.
Other, non-toxic solutions are;
Diatomacious Earth in their bedding, it will kill both flies and fleas and any other insect, try to make sure you do not breathe the powder. If it is very bad you can powder the babies too - but protect the eyes and nose while applying.
A wash made of marigold flower petals and pennyroyal (make like a very strong tea). Does not work as well as modern stuff but it is better than nothing.
If you have other animals you have to treat them all for fleas at the same time and treat all their bedding or else nothing will help much. Since you are looking at a lot of fleas, you also need to treat for tape worms. Most people do not know that they can infect outside their preferred species. The worms end up encysting in all sorts of bad areas in the body - and ivomectin based wormers do not touch them.
Alicia
So, being the eclectic, child-directed, somewhat unschooling type of homeschoolers that we are, we researched the diatomaceous earth to use that instead of pesticides. So glad that fits into homeschooling... Homeschooling is learning life's moments.
A sample of diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth (IPA: /ˌdʌɪətəˈmeɪʃəs ˈəː(r)θ/, also known as DE, diatomite, diahydro, kieselguhr, kieselgur and Celite) is a naturally occurring, soft, chalk-like sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. This powder has an abrasive feel, similar to pumice powder, and is very light, due to its high porosity. The typical chemical composition of diatomaceous earth is 86% silica, 5% sodium, 3% magnesium and 2% iron.
Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is used as a filtration aid, as a mild abrasive, as a mechanical insecticide, as an absorbent for liquids, as cat litter, as an activator in blood clotting studies, and as a component of dynamite. As it is also heat-resistant, it can be used as a thermal insulator.
Diatomaceous earth (IPA: /ˌdʌɪətəˈmeɪʃəs ˈəː(r)θ/, also known as DE, diatomite, diahydro, kieselguhr, kieselgur and Celite) is a naturally occurring, soft, chalk-like sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. This powder has an abrasive feel, similar to pumice powder, and is very light, due to its high porosity. The typical chemical composition of diatomaceous earth is 86% silica, 5% sodium, 3% magnesium and 2% iron.
Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is used as a filtration aid, as a mild abrasive, as a mechanical insecticide, as an absorbent for liquids, as cat litter, as an activator in blood clotting studies, and as a component of dynamite. As it is also heat-resistant, it can be used as a thermal insulator.
Applications:
Filtration
The most common use (68%) of diatomaceous earth is as a filter medium, especially for swimming pools. It has a high porosity, because it is composed of microscopically-small, coffin-like, hollow particles. It is used in chemistry, as a filtration aid, to filter very fine particles that would otherwise pass or clog filter paper. It is also used to filter water and other liquids, such as beer. It can also filter syrups and sugar. Other industries such as paper, paints, ceramics, soap and detergents use it as a fulling material.
Abrasive
The oldest use of diatomite is as a very mild abrasive and, for this purpose, it has been used both in toothpaste and in metal polishes, as well as in some facial scrubs.
Pest control
Diatomite is also used as an insecticide, due to its physico-sorptive properties. The fine powder absorbs lipids from the cuticle, the waxy outer layer of insects' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate. Arthropods die as a result of the water pressure deficiency, based on Fick's law of diffusion. This also works against gastropods and is commonly employed in gardening to defeat slugs. However, since slugs inhabit humid environments, efficacy is very low. Beekeepers are apparently experimenting with it, to keep small hive beetles from breeding. It is sometimes mixed with an attractant or other additives to increase its effectiveness. Medical grade diatomite is sometimes used to de-worm both animals and humans. It is most commonly used in lieu of boric acid, and can be used to help control and eventually eliminate a cockroach infestation.
Absorbent
Its absorbent qualities make it useful for spill clean-up and the U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends it to clean up toxic liquid spills.
More recently, it has been employed as a primary ingredient in a type of cat litter. The type of silica used in cat litter comes from freshwater sources and does not pose a significant health risk to pets or humans.
In 1867, Alfred Nobel discovered that nitroglycerin could be made much more stable if absorbed in diatomite. He patented this mixture as dynamite, and the mixture is also referred to as guhr dynamite.
Thermal
Its thermal properties enable it to be used as the barrier material in some fire resistant safes.
Hydroponics
Freshwater diatomite can be used as a growing medium in hydroponic gardens.
Geology
Specific varieties
Climatologic importance
The Earth's climate depends greatly on the amount of dust in the atmosphere, and hence, locating major sources of dust are of great interest for climatology. Recent research indicates that surface deposits of diatomaceous earth play a dominant resource here, a major example being the Bodélé depression in the part of the Sahara belonging to Chad, where storms push diatomite gravel over dunes, where dust is abraded, leading to the largest single influx of dust into the atmosphere. [1]
Safety considerations
The absorbent qualities of diatomite can result in a significant drying of the hands, if handled without gloves. The saltwater (industrial) form contains a highly crystalline form of silica, resulting in sharp edges. The sharpness of this version of the material makes it dangerous to breathe and a dust mask is recommended when working with it.
The type of hazard posed by inhalation depends on the form of the silica. Crystalline silica poses a serious inhalation hazard because it can cause silicosis. Amorphous silica can cause dusty lungs, but does not carry the same degree of risk as crystalline silica. Food-grade diatomite generally contains very low percentages of crystalline silica. Diatomite produced for pool filters is treated with heat, causing the formerly amorphous silicon dioxide to assume its crystalline form.
In the United States, the crystalline silica content in the dusts is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and there are guidelines for the maximum amounts allowable in the product and in the air near the breathing zone of workers. [2]
See also
Jacque
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