Is Your Dog Turning Your Green Lawn to Brown?

	April 30, 2011 Is Your Dog Turning Your Green Lawn to Brown? It's that time of year again, when it seems every evening and weekend are filled with the nearby hum of lawn mowers. Countless bags of weed-and-feed are being spread on homeowner's yards, in hopes of achieving the perfect, green lawn. But if you have a dog, all your efforts may seem for naught as brown patches appear across your perfectly manicured turf. Why does dog urine and feces have this sour effect on grass? Is female dog urine more damaging than male dog urine? Let's try to get to the bottom of this bothersome problem and dispel some old wives' tales at the same time. What Causes the Brown Spots? In areas on the lawn where dogs deposit urine or feces, a brown, burn spot may occur. The reason for the lawn burning was believed to be due to the urine pH level or the ammonia in the urine but recent studies prove otherwise. The concentration of the urine combined with high levels of nitrogen are the actual culprits of lawn damage. Urine concentration is directly related to the dog's fluid intake. If a dog is fed a dry food diet with only moderate water consumption, the urine produced by that dog will be more concentrated than that of a dog that consumes more water or moisture overall. Other factors such as size and metabolism will cause variations in the volume and concentration of urine that's produced by an individual dog. Excess nitrogen is removed from the dog's body via the kidneys and is found in the dog's urine. Fertilizers applied to the lawn to aid in the growth and health of the grass also contain nitrogen which is an essential component of healthy soil. But, when homeowners spread a lawn fertilizer, the combination of high levels of nitrogen in the dog's urine combine with the nitrogen in the fertilizer to create a burn spot due to the overdose of nitrogen in that spot. So, even by trying to help the lawn with fertilizer, you may be creating the opposite effect. The burning effect of dog waste is not limited to urine but as a solid waste, feces is either picked up regularly by the owner, or breaks down gradually over time, reducing the overdose effect to the grass. Female dogs and puppies of both genders squat low when they urinate, depositing a large volume of urine in one spot. Male dogs, even if neutered, tend to lift their leg to urinate, spraying urine over a wider area. This may be why it seems that female dog urine is more damaging to the lawn than male urine. What can be done? Reduce the concentration of the urine on the lawn to minimize damage to your grass. This can be achieved by flushing the area with the garden hose after your dog urinates. Rinsing the area within 8 hours will help to reduce the concentration of urine in one spot. Increase your dog's water intake to dilute urine concentration. Moisten dry food with water prior to feeding or add canned food, which naturally contains more moisture than dry kibble. Feed only a high quality dog food that uses highly digestible protein. If the protein in the pet food is derived from muscle or organ meat, the body uses more of the protein and less protein waste and nitrogen end up in the dog's urine and feces. Consult with your veterinarian before changing your dog's diet. If your dog has issues with liver or kidney function, a diet change may not be in his or her best interest. Train your dog to eliminate in one area of your property, away from the delicate lawn. Products like the Bramton Outright Pee Post can help your dog to confine his or her eliminations to one area. You can also collect your dog's urine and feces and deposit some in the area where you prefer your dog to "go." Take your dog outside on a leash only during the training period to ensure success. Grow more durable species of grass like Festuca species variety Kentucky 31 (fescue), Lolium perrene (perennial ryegrass), or clover. Or, opt for a dog-friendly ground cover like pea gravel or mulch. Add a supplement to your dog's diet to help neutralize urine pH and nitrogen. These supplements are available in tablet, liquid, chewable and biscuit form. As these supplements may modify your dog's urine pH level, it's important to consult with your veterinarian before administering. In many cases, if the burned spots on the lawn are addressed early, they will grow back. If the areas are large or the damage has been there for a while, it may be necessary to dig up the dead grass and soil and reseed after flushing the spot with water. There can be a world where green lawns and dogs live happily together. Understanding why your dog's urine can damage your grass and how you can resolve the situation is your first line of defense.   Does your lawn have brown spots because of your dog's urine? Tell us what has helped you to regain a healthy lawn. We love to hear your stories. Tell us all about it at our blog, PetFoodDirect/blog, or Facebook.com/PetFoodDirect. We'd love to hear from YOU!!! Did you know…you could SAVE up to 25% on your pet’s favorite brand of food when you sign up for Auto Ship? That’s the amazing savings of an exciting new benefit exclusively for our Auto Ship shoppers. Here’s how it works: Go to our Auto Ship Bonus Brands page to find your brand. (We currently have 14 brands and are adding more each week.) Here, you will see the “bonus savings” for each brand – either 5% or 10% -- add that to the 15% you get on EVERY Auto Ship order -- and you have your TOTAL SAVINGS for that brand. Want to know more? Check out Auto Ship today!