It is a fact that many dog hookworm infections happen in dogs either through birth, when they contract it from their mother or even from their natural environment. Dog diet can impact the contraction of hookworm, but most often hookworm infections occur in puppy hood. There are several treatments for hookworm and your veterinarian can supply you with medication, but if you are looking for a way to treat your dog's hookworm infection more naturally you can use a product called Diatomaceous Earth.
Diatomaceous Earth Treats Hookworm
Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring sedimentary rock that is composed of fossilized diatoms, which is a type of hard-shelled algae. Diatomaceous earth is chalky and crumbles easily. It has many uses that include filtration, pest control and in the DNA purification process. For treatment of hookworms, however, you would want to use food grade diatomaceous earth.
Treatment of Internal and External Pest and Parasites
Food grade diatomaceous earth can be used for household pests; it is also common to use it for the treatment of internal dog parasites. Diatomaceous earth is safe for dogs to eat and is effective in ridding animals of their internal parasites with consistent treatments. Food grade diatomaceous earth can also be used by sprinkling it on your dog's bedding and dusting your dog's body with it to remove external parasites.
Proper Use for Treatment of Hookworm
Having diatomaceous earth ingested by a dog to treat their hookworm infections can be a long process. Large breed dogs should be treated with one tablespoon of food grade product daily for 90 days and then another tablespoon every three days after that. For smaller dogs the recommended dose is one half a tablespoon. This will become a regular part of your dog's diet. You need to make sure if you decide to use the product that you do so after reading the directions carefully and you should only use it if you are going to commit to using the product as directed.
The Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth
Using a natural product like diatomaceous earth to treat your dog's hookworm is a great option if you like to avoid giving your dog any chemicals. Dewormers are very effective and are not harmful to your dog, but for many, a natural alternative is preferred. The other benefit of this product is that it has many additional uses for your pet beyond the internal parasite removal such as eliminating external pests on the dog's bed.
Choosing to use a natural remedy for your dog's hookworm infection is an excellent option. The trick to effective treatment is consistency in terms of how much of the product you give your dog and how often you give them the product. Again, make sure to follow the directions the manufacturer suggests and if you have any questions at all it is best to consult your dog's veterinarian for their opinion.