Dec 20
dog rolling in the grass

Why Does Dog Urine Turn Grass Brown?

All dog lovers surely have experience with brown patches of grass over the lawn in their dog’s favourite pee spots, but do you know why it happens?

Well, the answer is Nitrogen. Nitrogen that is excreted by the kidney into the pee, burns grass. The more protein eaten, the more nitrogen excreted. The more your pooch goes in the same spot, the more the grass is damaged. Some varieties of grass are also likely more susceptible than others.

What can you do about it?

Nothing. Well, you can run around with a water bucket and dilute the urine where your pooch pees on the ground, but that’s about all that will help. Some products that can be bought over the counter claim to acidify or alkalinise their urine to stop the burn of grass, but they don’t work well (or, at all), and can actually be damaging to their health.

Looks like some yellow or brown patches on the lawn is just part and parcel of having a dog, and with all the benefits that having a pooch brings, really, who cares?!

About The Author

Claire is a QLD graduate with 19 years experience as a neighbourhood Veterinarian in Australia and the UK. Animal lover and the founder of VetChat, born from a passion to help pet carers everywhere access trusted advice earlier, for healthier, happier pets. Grateful to be carer to her beautiful Red-dog.