If you're a dog lover, and you're interested in feeding fresh, real food, then we're guessing you're also wondering how you can prevent those pesky urine spots on your beautiful summer lawn - without using synthetic additives to your dog's diet. Dog urine turns grass brown primarily due to its concentrated nitrogen content and acidity. Dietary additives exist, and are marketed as preventing dog urine from damaging lawns. What's lesser known is 1. the true effectiveness of these products, and 2. the safety for your dog's health, which includes risk of kidney and urinary issues.Â
But can be done, and safely. To protect that green lawn you've worked hard to achieve, we've got a few ways to naturally prevent those brown spots:
1. Water the Area Immediately
After your dog urinates, pour water on the spot within a few minutes. This dilutes the nitrogen and reduces damage.
2. Train Your Dog to Use a Designated Spot
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Create a mulch, gravel, or artificial turf area for your dog.
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Use positive reinforcement to guide them there consistently.
3. Keep Your Dog Well-Hydrated
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Encourage your dog to drink more water. A well-hydrated dog has more diluted urine, which is less likely to burn grass.
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By feeding fresh food, your dog is already staying hydrated due to the high moisture content of fresh vegetables and meat. For a hydration and flavor boost, add a little no-sodium broth to food (or water bowl) if needed.
4. Adjust Your Dog's Diet (Cautiously)
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Diets too high in protein may increase nitrogen in urine (always consult a canine nutrition specialist before making any drastic changes to your pup's diet).
If all else fails, commit to...
5. Regular Lawn Maintenance
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Mow high and avoid over-fertilizing (fertilizer adds more nitrogen and worsens urine burn).
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Aerate soil to promote healthy root growth and drainage.