Diatomaceous Earth & Fleas

[Bunnies4ever]

I recently rescued a little Netherland dwarf who I think may have fleas.  The bunnies don’t look stressed, but I’ve been itching (I’m allergic to flea bites).  I’ve checked all the  bunnies and don’t see any fleas or flea dirt, but wanted to know if using Diatomaceous earth on the carpets would be safe for them.  I have some left over from when my houseplants were infested with aphids.  It’s the food grade type you can use on pets.  Also does anybody know how much Revolution costs?  I have 4 bunnies and live in the Bay Area, California.  Thanks!

[Michelle&Lolli]

I wouldn’t use it near or around the bunnies. Since it’s a fine powder, it can get into theirs (and yours) respiratory systems and might cause problems. I am not familar with it so you might want to double check with your vet. I just know that rabbits can be extra sensitive to some things so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

[BinkyBunny]

 Regarding that particular product— I find  it extremely confusing because I can find rabbit-savvy people who say it’s safe, while other experts say it’s dangerous and can cut up intestines if used near the bunny.  And even if it’s not, how much residue is left behind?    I spent the last hour going back through old posts, and checking out different reliable resources and came up with completely different answers.  Yes, it’s safe and NO, it’s not.  

So, I am just going to tell you what MY rabbit savvy vet has recommended and what has worked for me and my bunnies: 

To treat my bunnies, I use Advantage or Revolution.  (Advantage works quicker, but Advantage can also take care of some other types of parasites like mites).   I do a three month dosage because of the flea cycle.  (sometimes two months seems to work just fine) 

WIth that said, do not use Advantage or Revolution without a vets direction.  You can’t use as directed on the package.  My vet recommends a proper dosage based on my rabbits weight (which has nothing to do with the weight requirements specified on the box since that is for cats and dogs, and rabbits react differently) 

Then I put a flea collar IN MY VACUUM and I just vaccuum often and mop. We have hard wood floors so it’s easier for us to catch hiding fleas in corners. 

Normally, once the animals are treated, the problem goes away pretty quickly. 

However, there was a time, when we did get fleas that stuck around in the house (they are bad around here in the summer sometimes) and they started biting us. Yuck!  Even when I vaccuumed.  Never had the kind of problem before.   Can bring them in from neighbors animals, from grass, whatever.   Anyway, I went to my vet and asked what could I use in the house that is safe for animals.  Well, nothing is safe to use right around animals, but there are some things that you can use and then after a certain amount of time is okay for animals to be around.   She suggested Fleabusters for a major infestation.  Since it wasn’t that bad, she gave me a product called: Knock Out. (I think you can only buy it in a vets office)  But it is made by Virbac Animal Health.  We sprayed one half of the house, let it sit for 24 hours if I remember right (though my vet said it was safe to bring animals in after 12), and then I put the bunnies on that side when it was safe to bring them in, and then I sprayed the other side (of course, doors closed etc).   

That put an end to it and never had a problem with a larger problem since..  But the  ”Knock Out” spray instructions and cautions look as scary as any other crazy flea product so it’s up to the individual to do what you feel is best.   I just know that my rabbit-savvy vet recommended it .

I recommend though first that you just try to treat your animals first and see if that solves the problem. 

[jerseygirl]

If you use the diatomaceous earth, could you treat your carpets, make sure to keep the rabbits off it for a while, then vaccuum it up?

[Bunnies4ever]

I made a vet appointment for Hershey this weekend. The vet will treat him with Advantage and show me how to treat my other 3 bunnies. My concern is the carpet. All my buns live in x-pens with an area rug on top of the carpeting and extra padding on top of that to prevent sore hocks so they are not directly on the carpeting. I’ll ask about the Knock Out. That should do the trick. Thanks BB!

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