what to put in dogs food to stop pea from killing grass

How to stop dog urine burning your grass

Fri xiv SEP 2018

This article is written by our in-house veterinarian, Dr Carla Paszkowski

Is your dog ruining your lawn? (No - I'1000 non talking virtually pigsty-digging!) I'm talking near those unsightly pale brown patches of dead grass, scalded by your dog'southward flora-destroying super-pee. Nix says 'we own a domestic dog' quite similar a lawn full of scalded, dead patches of grass!

What exactly is it about dog pee that causes grass to suffer and die? And what can you do to stop the problem?

Is domestic dog urine actually the cause?

First, it's important to be sure it is actually your dog's urine causing the problem, and non something else like a illness of the grass or neighbourhood dogs getting in. A tip for figuring out if the grass has been burned or if information technology is diseased is by grasping the grass shoots and lifting them upwards. If the roots are firmly fastened, information technology'southward likely to be urine burn down, whereas if the roots are loose and come out of the ground hands, it'southward more probable to be caused past a bug or grass affliction.

Truthful urine scalding ordinarily occurs when your canis familiaris urinates on the same patch repeatedly. Many dogs instinctively prefer to allocate i section of their territory as their 'toilet area'. This is great for keeping other parts of the yard waste matter-complimentary, but tin really concentrate the urine in one surface area of grass.

The component of dog urine which kills grass is really the nitrogen compounds. Dog urine naturally contains a lot of nitrogen-containing waste products. Many assume that the trouble lies with the urine'southward pH, and refer to 'acidic' urine causing the problem. But this is wrong; the culprit is the nitrogen, not the pH.

The amount of urine existence deposited onto one patch of grass contributes too. For example, female dogs are more likely to cause urine scalding on the grass, as they tend to void their entire bladder in one go, rather than marking around the yard in smaller amounts similar males. Likewise, a large dog is more than likely to cause the problem than a small dog, because a larger float ways a greater quantity of urine.

How to terminate dog urine from staining your lawn

So at present that you understand what causes it, permit'south talk about a solution. There are a few principles involved in treating the problem:

1. The solution to pollution is DILUTION!

Hydrate your grass: Water is the key here. If yous can manage it, try to saturate the surface area of grass with h2o correct after your dog pees on it. Catch the hose or a bucket, and get watering!

Hydrate your pooch: On the same railroad train of idea, y'all should also try to dilute the urine itself by encouraging your dog to drinkable more water. More dilute urine = less concentrated levels of nitrogen in the pee.

How to encourage your domestic dog to drink more water: Obviously nosotros can't reason with a dog and ask them to beverage more than water. Nosotros can however apply footling tricks to become them to drink more, such as:

• Continue water sources fresh and plentiful. Try adding a couple more than bowls to the household and clean the bowls every couple of days.
• Provide a water fountain. Moving water seems more than fresh and enticing to dogs, and can aid increase their water intake.
• Try calculation water ice to the water, or use a freezable chilled bowl. Some dogs are more inclined to beverage chilled water - and really, who doesn't love a nice cool drink!
• Introduce some wet nutrient. If y'all only feed your dog dry out kibble, information technology can assist to mix a little wet nutrient into the diet. The higher water content will aid keep them hydrated and dilute their urine.
• Provide some doggy ice blocks. You can brand your own at habitation by simply freezing a little mince or moisture food into a container of water.

2. Decrease nitrogen in the urine

Y'all can subtract nitrogen products in your domestic dog'south urine via a couple of dissimilar ways; the first is via nutrition, and the second is with supplemental 'backyard fire products'.

A quick google search might signal you towards these 'lawn burn products'. These are designed to exist added to your dog'southward food, but are generally only available overseas (not in Australia). Unfortunately, many contain methionine to subtract the urine pH. Non only is decreasing your dog's urine pH not going to work (considering recall, information technology's about the nitrogen, not the pH!) but it can potentially atomic number 82 to urinary problems and crystal formation if fed to a healthy canis familiaris. Therefore, we recommend erring on the side of caution and avoiding food additives like these. Attempt nutritional modifications instead.

What nearly water additives? Dog Rocks are a product that are available in Australia. They are natural rocks designed to be added to your dog'due south drinking basin. This product claims to apply magnet technology to describe out tin can, ammonia and nitrites from the water. However, efficacy and reviews for this product are mixed at this point.

Is at that place a dog food to help decrease the nitrogen in the urine?

While at that place aren't any diets created for the express purpose of reducing nitrogen in the urine, it can help to feed a loftier quality diet that doesn't exceed your pet'due south poly peptide requirement.

Nitrogen is a secondary component from protein metabolism, then it follows that excessive protein = excessive nitrogen in the urine.

Many diets these days comprise a piffling too much protein - over 35% dry matter sometimes. While this doesn't do whatever harm to a healthy dog, and tin can actually be very beneficial in agile or working breeds, it isn't ideal to overload your dog with poly peptide if they don't need information technology.

Another dietary trick to help decrease nitrogen in the urine is by feeding a food containing Yucca shidigera. This natural plant is very fibrous, and is often used in pet food recipes to increase fibre content. It is also sometimes used to decrease litter box odour in cats.

Yucca shidigera helps bind the nitrogen in the urine, and so that less is excreted onto the grass. Run into our suggestions below for some diets that contain Yucca.

Finally, if you are currently buying a cheaper pet food, information technology can also assistance to swap over to a ameliorate quality, premium diet in general. Cheaper pet foods often contain poor quality, less-bioavailable sources of protein, which aren't able to be used by the body as easily and tend to get excreted in the form of nitrogen.

Which pet food is best for decreasing nitrogen in the urine?

With all this in listen most protein levels, quality, and Yucca shidigera, nosotros have establish a couple of options which might be perfect for backyard-destroying dogs.

1. Savourlife Calorie-free - this premium diet is 22% protein, which is certainly sufficient for a normal adult domestic dog just doesn't overload their body with excess levels. It contains Yucca shidigera (listed every bit 'yucca' in the ingredients). It is fabricated in Australia and premium quality - and even donates 50% of profits to rescue shelters. Note: as this is a 'lite' food, it might not exist ideal for underweight dogs.

2. BlackHawk Chicken and Rice - this nutrition is also 22% protein and contains Yucca shidigera (listed as 'yucca' in the ingredients). Information technology is too fabricated in Australia and one of our most pop brands.

3. Train them to pee somewhere else

As discussed earlier, grass burn occurs only in areas where your canis familiaris pees repeatedly. So, it can help to train your canis familiaris to urinate in a location that is less visible. This approach is very effective for owners who do not desire to alter their dog's diet, or who can't always be around to hose the grass every time their dog lifts his leg.

How to train your domestic dog to urinate in 1 surface area

If your dog is male person, it normally isn't also difficult to train them to pee in a desired area. All you demand is a pee post, some treats to reward them when they utilize it, and some time and patience. You lot might also similar to use a liquid 'attractant' similar the Rufus and Coco Pee Hither product - which works by attracting your domestic dog to pee on a desired area.

For females, it can exist a niggling trickier. The procedure is similar to toilet grooming a puppy - put your domestic dog on a leash and await in one area of the yard until they 'go'. Give them a reward such as a treat and echo until the process is learned. The 'Pee Here' attractant liquid mentioned in a higher place will help for females too.

4. Change your lawn

If y'all experience that you've tried everything and haven't found a resolution, it might assist to replant your yard with a tougher breed of grass. The nigh resistant grasses tend to be perennial rye grasses and fescues, while the most sensitive tend to be Kentucky bluegrass and Bermuda.

With all that in mind, we promise that your lawn will exist lush and greenish in no time. If you have whatsoever questions near whether the recommended diets or products might exist advisable for your dog, don't hesitate to ask our squad of veterinarians!

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Source: https://www.petcircle.com.au/discover/how-to-stop-dog-urine-burning-your-grass