We’ve covered a lot of information regarding Calcium Montmorillonite Clay (AKA bentonite / smectite) for internal use, including its function as a natural mineral supplement (over 60 macro/micro/trace mineral elements), antibacterial, detoxifier (radiation, aflatoxin, etc.), cleansing, internal parasite control, digestive aid, pH balance, prebiotic, allergy treatment, and so on. In honor of Pet First Aid Awareness Month, we would like to share some of the natural external uses of Calcium Montmorillonite Clay as a home remedy for pets.
External Applications for Pets
You can make a thick paste using one part Calcium Montmorillonite Clay and two parts water for use as a poultice, spread onto gauze for secure application. The poultice may also be warmed. Some holistic veterinarians mix Calcium Montmorillonite Clay with healing herbs, essential oils or extra virgin coconut oil for a natural ointment.
A Calcium Montmorillonite Clay poultice may be used as a pet home remedy to:
- Prevent and treat bacterial infection
- Relieve itching
- Treat skin conditions (psoriasis)
- Treat ‘hot spots’
- Soothe burns
- Relieve nerve or other inflammation
- Treat insect bites or stings
- Relieve muscle sprains & strains (may be warmed if the area is not inflamed)
- Treat gum disease
Calcium Montmorillonite Clay powder may also be applied directly to open wounds to control bleeding and prevent infection.
Don’t be concerned if your pet licks a pure, human-grade clay poultice, but both of you should avoid inhaling the powder due to quartz content.
Aquarium Fish
Calcium Montmorillonite Clay has been used in ponds for many years. It is being explored for aquarium use, mostly as a therapeutic bath for injury, parasites or disease. It’s also used as a mineral supplement for fish (fish absorb minerals from the water supply as well as through ingestion) and plants. Calcium Montmorillonite Clay binds toxins and heavy metals to a degree that far outperforms charcoal and other filter products. As an added benefit, Calcium Montmorillonite Clay also helps to stabilize pH and control algae.
Our experience with the use of clay in aquariums has been very promising at the therapeutic level. We have also seen positive results with the addition of Calcium Montmorillonite Clay to our Shrimp and Apple Snail tanks. We add a dash or two from a small-holed salt shaker (comparable to a pinch of salt) to all of our aquariums with each water change. While too much clay can cloud the water, you may want to try it in somewhat larger quantities in a quarantine tank for the temporary treatment of disease. Too much clay, however, may cause drastic changes in pH, interfere with gill function, clog drains or damage mechanical filtration.
To avoid impurities and low-grade effectiveness that may have a negative impact on delicate aquatic or other pets, we recommend you only use human pure Calcium Montmorillonite Clay as opposed to generic healing clays (which can be virtually any type or grade of clay), cosmetic clay or pond clay.
??? Have you used healing clays as a first aid treatment? Please tell us about it in the comments below.
Sources:
Dextreit, Raymond. Our Earth, Our Cure. 1993.
Abehsera, Michel. The Healing Clay. 1979.
Knishinsky, Ran. The Clay Cure : Natural Healing from the Earth
Engel, Cindy. Wild Health: Lessons in Natural Wellness from the Animal Kingdom
✔ You may also be interested in reading:
Holistic Dog Toothpaste Recipe For Healthy Teeth and Gums
Natural Pet Protection from Aflatoxin (and other Toxins) with Montmorillonite Clay
Pet Arthritis: Holistic Prevention and Natural Treatment
Natural Prevention and Treatment of Aquarium Fish Parasites
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I can’t believe the cure for hot spots is so easy. Every night after work I wash it gently with antibacterial soap, rinse, let it dry completely and put the clay paste on. When that’s dry I wrap it in a tough bandage just tightly enough to keep it in place. Ask a vet for good bandage.
I remember my grandmother using clay of some sort on stings and bites and I remember well how good it worked on us kids. I forgot all about it until I read this post. Now I’m ordering some for me and my grandchildren. 🙂
I was skeptical but I wouldn’t live without montmorillonite now. Mother nature knows what she’s doing and science is arrogant to think they can do it better all the time. I’m not all rainbows & daisies and I believe in medication when necessary but only when necessary. It’s so hard on our liver for one thing and clay even helps that.
our dogs get mont clay in their water & I’ve used it on wasp stings
The clay poultice worked OVERNIGHT on our dog’s hot spot!!! We’ve tried EVERYTHING and nothing worked. SO SIMPLE yet so effective. THANK YOU!!!
We use clay so often for so many things that we are never without it now. You don’t often find a natural product that is good for you internally and externally plus a supplement. You can’t go wrong with quality healing clay.
My dog has a nasty habit of chewing himself raw when he gets an insect bite. It remains a habit long after the bite should be healed but he keeps at it so it never does. We tried a few different things then my neighbour suggested calcium montmorillonite clay. Now we apply a bandaged poultice as soon as he starts working a spot. Since it extracts the venom and heals the bite quickly he forgets all about it until it’s gone. It’s made our summers much more enjoyable.
My dog had some kind of acne skin condition and a friend recommended montmorillonite clay. It worked really fast so now we keep it on hand for flareups.
I’ve read studies about the healing powers of clay but it was using it myself that made me a believer. We’ve applied it to everything from scrapes on our grandchildren to tick bites on the dog.
I ordered & going to try it for hot spots.
One of the few applications safe for cats is Calcium montmorillonite clay. Our tomcat came home torn up after fighting all night when he got out and clay healed him in a week.
The clay poultices work really well formy dogs too.
@Marnie, our vet suggested calcium montmorillonite clay for hot spots too and it works very well. She said not to worry if he licks it because if it’s due to allergies or toxins then eating it is good for him anyway. The only warnings she had were possible constipation or diarrhea if he eats too much of it and that it has to be pure edible clay. We put it on a bandage so he only gets at a bit of it. We got the biggest size (I can’t remember how big it was) from this site and it will last for a long time. So grateful!
I’ve never seen such rapid healing of my dog’s hot spots. The montmorillonite clay seems to draw out the infection and dries it up so it can heal quickly. Brilliant stuff.
This is good for a new veterinarian to know! Thank you!
I’ve used clay poultices for my dog and me a few times. I don’t know the scientific explanation but it did make for fast healing and no infections in any cut or sore I put it on.
I had no idea this stuff was so useful, thanks for sharing.
Montmorillonite clay can also be used for poisoning to help until you get to a vet but I guess that’s more internal.
WOW! Clay truly is powerful stuff!
Calcium Montmorillonite Clay is so versatile and beneficial for humans and pets. I’ve had it in my household first aid kit for several years and I enjoy reading articles about what it can do. Thank you!