My dog’s urine is killing the grass! What does this indicate?
The damage to the grass has to do with the nitrogen content and concentration.
Urine is the nitrogenous by-product resulting from protein breakdown by the functioning kidneys. Carnivores have a significant protein requirement and therefore more nitrogen can be found in the excrement (urine and feces). Urine is a more serious problem for lawns over feces because it is applied all at once as a liquid fertilizer. The nitrogen overload at the center causes the burn, but as the urine is diluted toward the periphery, it has a fertilizer effect. Feces has the slow release effect, not to mention someone is out there picking those landmines up.
As you might expect from this discussion then, a female dog going in one spot will have a more damaging effect than the male who goes a little here and a little there. Also, lawns are most susceptible to nitrogen burns when standard fertilizers are maximized in the lawn. All that extra effort to have the green lawn may be in vain if a dog uses the area for its toilet.
To reduce the yellow, pick a grass that is more resistant to the urine effects. Fescue and ryegrass are the most resistant. Kentucky bluegrass and bermuda grass are very sensitive.
Dr. A.W. Allard, a Colorado veterinarian, examined numerous variations in dog urine and the effects on several common lawn grasses. He found that the volume of urine (nitrogen content) and urine concentration had the most deleterious effects on lawns. The pH of the urine nor any additives are not the culprit.
There you have it!
