Why does dog urine ruin grass? And what you can do to fix it

Having a dog often means cleaning up after them. And we do it because it’s worth the companionship, loyalty, and love we receive from them.

In this case, taking care of the dead spots in the lawn they cause when they go out to “do their business.”

Anyone with a dog has seen the unsightly brown and yellow spots in the yard once or twice.

But why does dog urine kill the grass? To fix it, we must understand it.

Understanding the effects of dog urine on grass

Nitrogen is a nutrient all plant life requires, but only in balanced amounts. Too much nitrogen causes something called fertilizer burn, aptly named because the grass will look almost as if it’s been torched by flames.

And dog urine has very high levels of nitrogen.

So, what does this mean for your grass? When your dog pees in the grass, all that excess nitrogen soaks into the soil, increasing the salt concentration and drawing water away from the grassroots. Without water, the grass dries out and starts to die.

The nitrogen levels in dog urine come down to several factors, such as:

Diet

Dogs are carnivores, so it’s no surprise that they eat a lot of protein. When the body breaks down protein, it eliminates the extra nitrogen via urine. Dogs on low-protein or vegetarian diets will have less nitrogen in their urine, meaning less potential grass damage.

Water intake

Dogs that drink more water have more diluted urine, which doesn’t mean less nitrogen, but it’s less concentrated. Dogs have more concentrated urine when dehydrated or drinking less water before potty breaks.

Dog gender

Female dogs squat to pee, which deposits more urine in one spot, further concentrating the amount of nitrogen in a smaller area. Whereas male dogs often lift their leg and pee over a larger area.

There is no actual difference in the urine or nitrogen concentration between male and female dogs based on gender; it simply lies in how they pee. Some male dogs don’t do that and instead will squat, which will have the same effect on the grass as female dogs.

Does dog breed matter?

No matter the dog breed, they all affect the grass similarly, with one exception. There are over 400 dog breeds worldwide, and only Dalmatians have a different urinary makeup.

Dalmatians commonly produce elevated levels of uric acid, which other dog breeds don’t, which can lower the pH balance of the soil. A pH imbalance can make grass and other plant life hard to grow.

Identifying dog urine damage in grass

The damage caused by dog urine will look different depending on the severity of damage and frequency. The most common signs damaged grass will show are brown or yellow patches and dark green spots.

If the grass is yellow instead of brown, it is damaged but alive. In most cases, damaged grass can be returned to health, but brown grass is usually already dead.

Brown spots

Brown spots are the most prominent and common sign of excess nitrogen damage. Usually, they will appear as a large circle of dead or dying grass surrounded by a ring of dark green healthy grass.

The dark green edges are from lower levels of nitrogen promoting grass growth.

Brighter green spots

Smaller green spots are less common and may indicate dog urine damage. The grass in these places is often brighter green and taller or thicker than the rest of the lawn.

Like the dark green ring mentioned above, this is caused by elevated nitrogen levels. The difference here is that the levels are too high, and although the grass is growing, it is damaging the roots, and it will soon start to die if nothing is done.

Fixing dog urine spots on the lawn

Don’t panic if you have urine spots in your yard. With some consistency, you can bring back your lawn’s healthy appearance. Having a nice yard and having a dog are not mutually exclusive. Some simple steps are:

• Remove dead or damaged grass with a rake or shovel.
• Aerate the spots with an aerator or even a drill works great.
• Add some compost, peat moss, or sand to improve soil quality and drainage.
• Spread new grass seed or let the nearby grass spread. (Either option works)
• Water regularly until new grass grows.
• Water every time your dog goes outside to dilute and wash away the urine.
• If you can encourage your dog to use a different spot, at least that is best for now.

Preventing dog urine damage to your lawn

You’re in luck if you don’t already have these unsightly urine spots in your yard. Prevention is much easier and faster than regrowing dead grass.

Dilute dog urine with water

The easiest way to prevent urine from damaging your yard is to spray water over the spot your dog peed to dilute it whenever they go out. This will dilute the nitrogen concentration and help wash it away.

Walking your dog regularly

Another good way is to take your dog on more frequent or regular walks. They will get more exercise and stimulation and urinate in different places instead of that one spot they picked in your yard.

Potty here, not there

The most difficult, but also more permanent, way is to train your dog to potty in designated places.

There are various ways to train your dog, but you’ll want to pick a spot, ideally without grass. Get creative. I once saw someone put a fake fire hydrant in the yard, surrounded by gravel, and taught his dog to pee on it. Not only was the reference amusing, but it protected his yard.

Common myths about dog urine damaging grass

Over the years, people have developed many myths or misconceptions about grass damaged by dog urine.

Myth 1: Only female dogs cause spotting in lawns

We mentioned earlier that female dogs tend to cause more damage to the grass than males, but only because of how they urinate. Male dogs can still cause spotting or small patches of dead/dying grass if they have a low water intake and concentrated or acidic urine.

Myth 2: Brown spots occur when dog urine is alkaline

Some people think brown spots happen because the dog’s urine is alkaline (high pH level). But this isn’t accurate. The color and damage to the grass are affected by the amount of nitrogen and salt in the dog’s urine.

Myth 3: Dog urine spots can be prevented with food supplements

One of the more harmful theories is that dog urine spots can be prevented by adding food supplements to their dog’s diet, like baking soda, tomato juice, cranberry juice, or vinegar.

These foods won’t affect the composition of the dog’s urine and can harm their digestive tract or cause urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Chase Roseberry has spent his life surrounded by all kinds of animals. From growing up with horses, dogs, and cats to keeping multiple saltwater aquariums, he quickly realized he loves all animals. He now shares his passion by writing on BuzzPetz with his loyal German Shepherd proofreading at his side. You can get in touch with Chase on LinkedIn.