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Question 12: My yard has numerous brown spots where my dog(s) have been
urinating. Is there anything I can do to prevent this?
I have heard of products that are supposed to prevent the
problem.
Answer:
Lawn burn or brown spots in the lawn are common complaints among dog
and occasionally cat
owners. They typically seem to be due to the pet's
urine, but the feces can also create dead spots in the lawn.
Much misinformation exists as to the nature of these spots as
well as the best way to deal with them. Many have speculated that the problem
is due to the pH (acid/base) of the urine and claim that
female urine causes more problems than male urine because it
is more acidic or different in some other way. The truth
is that lawn burn is caused by the high levels of nitrogen in
dog urine and feces. The nitrogen is a normal by-product of both
dog and cat metabolism. In limited amounts the nitrogen acts
as a lawn fertilizer resulting in lush growth at the edges of
the brown spots. In greater amounts nitrogen kills the
grass causing the brown spots. There is no significant
difference in the composition of male and female dog urine.
The urine from female dogs causes more a problem than male
urine because females tend to urinate a large volume in a
single location. Males on the other hand tend to urinate
smaller amounts in a number of locations.
There are a number of commercial products available as well as
home recipes that
are intended to aid in the prevention of brown spots in the
lawn. The ingredients vary widely. The problems
with these products and concoctions are that they likely won't work and that they
may change the pet's urine in
unexpected ways and cause a medical problem where one does not
currently exist. Dog and cat urine is what it is for very
specific reasons. By subtly altering the pH, mineral
content, or other factors you may be predisposing your pet to
urinary tract infections, crystals, or stones.
We recommend the following:
- Avoid nutritional supplements or homemade remedies
intended to eliminate lawn burn or brown spots in the lawn
caused by pet urine.
- WATER, WATER, WATER. Dilute your pet's urine with
abundant fresh water soon after it urinates.
- Check out the links below or contact your local garden
center regarding reseeding or replacing the sod.
- Train your pet to eliminate in a specific area in the
yard. Consider covering this area with gravel or mulch.
- Visit one or more of the following web sites for more
information:
The University of Minnesota Extension Service
The University of Wisconsin - Extension
The Texas A & M University System, Extension Horticulture
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