Landscaping for Dog Lovers- Urine Spots

With our very mild winter and early spring (summer?) your thoughts have likely turned to outdoor activities already. As you clean up the yard, you may notice the lawn looks worse than usual- especially if you have female dogs. Why is this? The dilemma of dog urine burning the lawn is something pet owners have questioned since lawns became the standard around homes. What causes the dead or burned spots and can they be avoided? When any creature eats protein, it is broken down, utilized by the body and the waste product is nitrogen or urea which is excreted in the urine. When a quantity of this is deposited on your lawn it is just like dumping too much nitrogen containing fertilizer in one area. It kills the center area, while the outside edges get just the right amount to grow thick and green. This is why you get the characteristic “rings” of damage. This is also why female dogs tend to burn lawns more , as they usually urinate in one pool, while the boys tend to “sprinkle” a bit more. The reason the urine burns the lawn is the nitrogen waste, not the pH (acid or base), the breed, the reproductive status or phase of the moon. However, in one study Bermuda grass and Kentucky bluegrass were most susceptible to damage from dog urine. The reason that this mild dry winter complicates this lies in one of the only proven means to prevent urine burn.

Information from Colorado State University Extension states that the only proven prevention to urine burn is to dilute the nitrogen with water before the damage occurs. Best practice is to pour water over the area within 8 hours of urination to dilute the urine. Interestingly, watering after 12 hours actually makes the burn worse. With our lack of moisture this winter, no natural dilution occurred and that is why your lawn may look worse this spring. Although the site of you stalking the urine spots with a hose may cause the neighbors to wonder, it is probably worth it. Another sure fire way to prevent urine burn is to teach your dog to eliminate in a separate area. An area with a visual barrier and filled with 4” of pea gravel (pun intended, but the type of gravel does matter) can be comfortable for your pooch, and easier to clean and maintain than a lawn with “land mines”. Increasing the quality or digestibility of the protein in your pet’s food may help decrease elimination of nitrogen waste. Lowering the protein content, if lifestyle appropriate may do the same thing. There are supplements promoted as preventing lawn damage from your pet’s urine. Some contain the amino acid L - methionine, B vitamins, yucca extracts, and one even has a small amount of green tea. The small amount of caffeine present is said to promote more dilute urine. While these products appear to be safe for young healthy dogs, as always, consult with your veterinarian before adding a supplement. Never exceed the label dose as more is not always better and may actually be dangerous! Dogs with liver or kidney issues should not receive these types of supplements. Adding tomato juice, garlic, baking soda or other home remedies to your pet’s diet or drinking water will not help and in some cases can be quite harmful. An easy adage to remember when it comes to lawn urine burns is “The solution to pollution is dilution” Let’s hope for some spring showers!!!