Dog Urine Killing Your Grass? Here's What You Need To Know

If you've noticed yellow spots in your yard where you dog has peed, you may be concerned about why it happens and if your dog is ill. Fortunately, yellow grass signifies that your dog's urine has excessive nitrogen, which is a sign that his kidneys are functioning problem. However, there are several things you can do reduce or prevent yellow spots from occurring in your yard. Here's what you need to know.

Urine contains nitrogen

Carnivores require a lot of protein, which can be from meat or plant. Protein gets broken down by the body and this creates nitrogen, which gets removed from the body by the kidneys as urine. Nitrogen is often used as a fertilizer but in low amounts. You know the saying that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing? This is an example of that.

Too much nitrogen is bad for your grass

Excessive amounts of nitrogen in any area can be harmful to grass and kill it. When your pooch raises their leg or squats to pee, the urine stream is located in one area and that area will turn yellow if your dog has excessive nitrogen in his urine. However, the outer edges of the circular area may be lush and green due to the fertilizing affects of lower amounts of nitrogen where the pee disbursed to.

Change your dog's diet to reduce nitrogen

Food with high quality meat protein produce lower amounts of nitrogen so feed your dog food with meat based protein instead of plant based protein. Also, there are supplements available that will reduce nitrogen. Another thing you can do is give your dog probiotics, which binds the nitrogen and causes it to go to the colon rather than to the kidneys. As always, it's a good idea to seek vet services before changing your dog's diet and to make sure there are no health conditions.

Dilute the nitrogen after your dog urinates

If you don't want to change your dog's diet or add supplements or probiotics, the only thing you can do is to dilute the nitrogen after your dog urinates. This can be easily be done by watering the spot so the nitrogen isn't strong. However, this means you'd need to keep an eye on your dog at all times when he is outside so you would know where water is needed. Alternatively, install a sprinkler system to water the yard to dilute nitrogen.