Diatomaceous earth ?

[Ang]

has anyone used this product around their rabbits? they state its all natural from sea plants?

 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

never heard of it, but I looked it up…under safety conditions it says not to breathe it in…so I’d say that’s a no-go for bunnies!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth

 

On the note of all natural (not pointed at you or anyone on here) but alot of marketing likes to point at a product and say it’s all natural so it’s safe. I’d like to counter that most herbal or all natural products are not FDA regulated and are thus perhaps not safe, but also tabacco, alcohol and most drugs are all natural and surely not completely safe!!! Ammonia is all natural, so is H2S and that kills at 8 ppm!!!

[rabbitsmba]

I used it in the spring to combat ants. I used it around the rabbits but no where they would actually come in contact with it. But my understanding is that it is completely safe for them.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Ahhh!!

Well it says there are two forms of it…I didn’t read it that far in depth but one you cannot inhale safely and one doesn’t seem to be a problem.

Is the product name DE or something else?

[rabbitsmba]

There is a warning on the container not to inhale it or get it in your eyes. So of course, this is what happens to me….I take the bottle, and it says to shake it up, so I do. Then I have trouble opening the little spout on top. I wrestle, wrestle, wrestle with it and finally – POP! All this dust shoots right into the air and lands all over me like a dust cloud! I was freaking of course, having just read to “caution” part – all over my clothes, my hair, I could even see it on my eyelashes! I went outside and dusted my self off, came inside, stripped and took a shower. I was fine – nothing happened to me. Scared the bejesus out of me though.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

LOL!! I’m a total clutz so I appreciate hearing of that kind of thing happening to other people!!

[Veronica Vigilant]

ah, I love it when my oceanography degree comes in handy…. diatomaceaous earth is made from ground up diatoms- very small plant-like organisms that live in the water- the reason it acts to keep away ants and the reason it says not to inhale is because diatoms have a silica cell wall- essentially the same as being glass- so imagine a tiny ant trying to crawl across a wall of broken glass- now imagine inhaling a bunch of tiny glass shards! So I wouldn’t use it where the bunnies would be in danger of inhaling it or coming in contact with it…

Good point K&K- my thesis research in grad school was studying a toxin that was produced by a small number of diatoms- a completely NATURAL toxin! So it always drives me crazy when products advertise themselves as safe because they’re all natural!!!

[Scarlet_Rose]

Thanks for your expertise Bob! I too have used it, but only outside where my rabbits are not present, around the parameter of the foundation of the house. It really helps to keep the creepy crawlies out.

[Erbear]

It can scar your lungs! (and, I’m assuming, your bunny’s lungs)

I used to use it at work for stuff and we had to wear masks. Don’t use it if you don’t have to. Any dust that gets airborne can be breathed in and really hurt you over time.

[Author]

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