ArcaMax

Workers who mine the product are potentially prone to a serious respiratory illness called Silicosis, caused by inhaling silica dust. While Diatomaceous earth may be a natural product, no one knows if it may be unhealthy for people to use the product, or whether it's harmful to pets.

"When there are safe flea products that your veterinarian knows will work, I'm unsure why people would take a chance with this product just because people say so online," Dryden notes. "How about asking your veterinarian?"

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Q: On the radio, you once mentioned four steps to avoid tick disease. Could you repeat the list? -- C.G., South Haven, MI

A: Internal medicine specialist Dr. Carrie White, of Pear City, HI, will do the honors:

1: Monitor your pet's environment: If you know there are ticks in your yard, discourage them by creating an unfavorable tick environment. Ticks don't thrive on concrete. Ticks have a particular affinity for low-hanging bushes, so keep these away from the house. Most importantly, deter wildlife, especially deer, from coming on your property. White concedes this can be challenging, as many people love seeing Bambi in the back yard.

2: Do tick checks: Examine your dog for ticks daily. If you spot one, wear gloves to remove it, White advises. Using tweezers or a tick-removing tool (available online and at many pet stores), pull the tick straight out (without twisting) and save it for your veterinarian to identify. Even when engorged with blood, some ticks are quite small and can be hard to see -- especially in all that dog hair.

3: Use tick products: "Tick products purchased with veterinary input do a very nice job; some even deter ticks from getting on the pet in the first place," says Dr. Michael Paul, past president of the Companion Animal Parasite Council.

4: Check out the Lyme disease vaccine: Where Lyme exists, the vaccine should be considered.

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