How to Prevent Dog Urine Spots, Burns on Lawn, Grass, Plants - Natural Prevention

 

In this Article:
  • Why You Should NOT Give your Dog Commercially Manufactured Products to Stop Grass Urine Burn
  • Why Your Dog’s Urine Burns Grass and Vegetation and Related Negative Implications to your Dog’s Health
  • Some Typical Indicators That a Dog Food is Low in Quality Protein;
  • The Importance of Methionine
  • Urine Burns Can Be a Warning Sign That you Need to Improve Your Dog’s Diet
  • Healthy Solutions to Help Stop Your Dog’s Urine from Burning Your Lawn
My dogs', (various breeds, female and male dogs)  urine does not burn the grass (lawn) when my dogs (female and male), urinate.  A healthy dog's urine should not cause any substantial burning of grass (lawns).
 

Why You Should NOT Give Your Dog Commercially Manufactured Products to Stop Grass Urine Burn

There are many commercially manufactured supplements - that claim to be ‘natural’; to stop your dog’s urine from burning your lawn – however the truth is that these products are not all natural and do contain ingredients that are toxic and carcinogenic. In addition these products do not resolve the root cause of the problem – and that leaves your dog’s health in ongoing jeopardy.   

An example of one such product is ‘Naturvet Grasssaver’ products (biscuit, liquid or pill form) for dogs. Naturvet Grasssaver liquid product which is designed to be added to your dog’s drinking water contains ingredients such as:
  • DL methionine (synthetic methinone, you can read about that further below);
  • Sodium benzoate – a known carcinogen;
  • Maltodextrin – an artificial polysaccharide sugar used as an additive to make foods more attractive;
    • Maltodextrin is manufactured by applying acids of other enzymes to starch;
    • In North America cornstarch (derived from corn) is the primary base.
      • Corn and corn derivatives used in pet food manufactured in North America are carcinogenic, endocrine disrupting, allergenic and more.
    • In Europe wheat starch is used as the base – grains and grain derivatives cause many health problems in dogs;
    • Maltodextrin is a large molecule that contains no vitamins and minerals;
      • In order for your dog to digest maltodextrin he must use his own store of vitamins and minerals to assimilate the maltodextrin – this can rob his body of essential vitamins and minerals;
    • Maltodextrin can trigger allergic reactions, asthma, weight gain, hypoglycemia, raise bad cholesterol levels and is most obviously not part of a dog’s appropriate diet.

Why Your Dog’s Urine Burns Grass and Vegetation and the Related Negative Implications to your Dog’s Health

 
 
Dogs are omnivores, evolved to consume a diet comprised mainly of high-quality protein, high quality fat and some carbohydrates.  A dog’s species appropriate diet is a raw food diet as detailed in this articleDry, canned and wet food diets, starchy carbohydrates, food additives cause and contribute to a wide spectrum of health issues and conditions in dogs, including acidification of the body. 
 
A dog’s digestive system is evolved to effectively and efficiently breakdown high-quality: proteins, fats and raw meaty bones and a small amount of appropriate plant materials while generating minimal waste products - i.e. nitrogen.

The most prevalent ingredients in lawn fertilizer are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-P).  Commercially manufactured fertilizers include N-P-P in a ratio formulated to support plant growth. When the ratios are unbalanced and too much nitrogen is present vegetation will end-up being burned.

Most commercially manufactured dog food does not conform to the ratios as described above, nor come anywhere close. Instead most commercial dog food contains an overabundance of:
  • Poor quality carbohydrates and fillers: such as corn, soy, and other grains including highly refined cereal grains, cellulose (wood pulp), potatoes;
  • Poor source protein i.e.
    • Chicken by-product, egg-product, soy, peas, etc.
While many manufacturers claim that their dog food is 'scientifically' researched and developed to be nutritionally complete - it is very important to understand that the term ‘nutritionally complete’ is not a regulated term in the world of pet foods, nor is ‘holistic’ or ‘natural’. AFFCO certification is also not an assurance that a dog food is nutritionally complete. In-fact I have yet to see a ‘nutritionally complete dog food’.  Dogs are evolved to require the presence of sufficient levels of specific nutrients to keep their system in natural balance.  Good quality protein is an essential.

When a dog is on a diet that contains low-quality protein, the digestive system must work harder to separate viable nutrition from non-viable and as a result more waste product is produced. Nitrogen is one of those waste products - a natural by-product resulting from the breakdown of protein during the process of digestion. An unbalanced diet for a dog creates the same effect as an unbalanced lawn fertilizer – the dog’s urine ends up containing very high levels of nitrogen. If the dog is not ingesting sufficient fluids the concentration of nitrogen in the dog’s urine increases.

The only reason a female dog’s urine seems to burn grass more than a male dog’s urine is because the female squats low to the ground and the urine pools in one area as opposed to the urination ritual of a mature male dog who will usually pee streaming the urine at an elevated height, which does not result in a concentrated polling of the urine. When a female dog squats to urinate all of the urine pools in one spot and then sinks down to soil and root level at which point the roots of the grass, plant absorb the water and with it an excess of nitrogen causing a fertilizer overload and the resulting burn.

The Importance of Methionine
  • Methionine is an essential amino acid that the body cannot produce on its own;
  • Therefore the dog must receive a constant level of methionine from the foods he/she ingests.  Essential amino acids are building blocks that enable protein synthesis and the breakdown of fats. 
  • Methionine is essential for healthy skin, coat, eye, heart health and more.

Foods that are rich in Methionine include:
If you see ‘egg product’ in the list of ingredients in your dog’s food don’t expect that egg product to be a source of natural methionine as the ‘egg product’ included in most dog food is waste material from hatcheries and egg processing facilities.

Plant-based protein (soy, peas, etc.) is very low in methionine.  The soy used in pet food in North America also poses a whole host of serious health problems for your dog.

Urine Burns Are a Warning Sign That you MAY Need to Improve Your Dog’s Diet


Seeing your lawn covered in yellow or brown spots can be an eyesore and may also be a sign that you are placing your dog’s overall health at risk.

Dogs that are fed only processed dog food (dry or wet) can have many health problems both early and later in life and a foreshortened life-span.
 
  • In 2012 the top reason for bringing a dog to the veterinarian was ear infections;
    • Most ear infections are triggered by inappropriate diet;
    • Most veterinarians prescribe antibiotics to clear-up the infection, which unfortunately does not clear-up the root cause;
    • Which can then result in chronic ear infections;
    • An immune system that is suppressed, and;
    • Resistance to antibiotics .
  • Poor diet can cause many other issues including a disruption of the body’s natural Ph level where a dog’s blood becomes acidic;
    • Diseases including cancer and parasites all thrive in an acidic environment;
    • Insects such as mosquitoes and fleas are attracted to dogs with acidified blood.

The Best Solution is one with a Multitude of Benefits

The best solution to a nice lawn is a mutually beneficial one which will first ensure your dog’s overall health and well being and, at the same time resolve the unsightly yellow and brown spots in your lawn and garden.

Healthy Solutions to Help Stop Your Dog’s Urine from Burning Your Lawn

 
A Species Appropriate Diet
 
The best solution is to feed your dog a species appropriate raw diet.

If you do not want to make your own raw food, you can purchase pre-prepared good quality frozen raw dog food in many pet stores;
  • Just because you are feeding your dog a cooked or raw diet, does not mean that the specific diet you are using is appropriate for dogs. Many (homemade and commercial) cooked and raw diets include inappropriate listed and/or hidden ingredients that can cause health issues.
  • Homemade cooked or raw diets, commercial store bought cooked and raw diets are NOT a one-size-fits all panacea for perfect health. 
  • Every dog is an individual, with his / her unique gut microbes, unique metabolism, and needs.  
  • A specific diet that works well for one dog may not work well, or 'perfectly' for another dog. There are thousands of raw diets - each comprised of specific ingredients that MAY or MAY Not all cooked or raw diets are equal in quality.
  • A formula / recipe may include one or more inappropriate ingredients - listed or hidden.  
  • You may be including additional supplements that are simply not appropriate for your individual dog, or not appropriate due to listed and hidden ingredients.
  • When seeking reasons why a specific diet may not be resulting in the expected result for your dog, a detailed review is recommended.
Factory Farm Sourced Raw Food
 
If your dog is on a raw diet BUT the components of the diet are sourced from factory farm raised animals, the toxic residues can contribute to your dog's toxic load, resulting in underlying issues and increase risk of urine burns.

Learn more in this article.
 
Healthy Fluids

Include health supporting liquids in your dog's dietary protocol. Choose what bests suits your dog, for example:
Homemade Bone Broth:
 
Short Cooked Broth
 
Rooibos Tea

 
Holistic Diet, Nutrition, Wellness Services Tailored to Your Individual Dog and Cat
 
For information about my holistic diet, nutrition, wellness services visit my:
 
Maintain good health | Address acute and chronic health issues | Pre and post surgery support and recovery
 
My holistic wellness services are available worldwide via video consultation.

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To set-up your holistic wellness consultation get in-touch via email:
Contact me.

 
Holistic Behavioral Services For Your Dog
 
For information about my holistic behavioral services visit my:
For dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds
 
My holistic behavioral services are available locally in-person and worldwide via video session.
 
🌎  USA | Canada | UK | Europe | Australia | New Zealand | Asia | South and Central America | Africa | UAE
 
📱 FaceTime | Facebook | Skype | WhatsApp
 
To set-up your holistic behavioral session get in-touch via email:
Contact me.
 
Affiliations to Companies
✓ None.
✓ I don't sell food or supplements.
✓ I'm not aligned with any companies.

Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld


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