Warm boot recommendations please

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I've noticed some yellow patches on my brand new turf lawn . (Didn't think male dogs' urine caused that but it obviously does ).

 

Dog rocks have been suggested (by some trusty Omleteers ). They seem quite expensive (if you replace them as regularly as suggested). Does anyone use them successfully (and have a cheaper source!)?

 

I'm wondering whether to just put a gate up and prevent Riley going into the garden (although I can't keep him out altogether ).

 

Will the patches on my lawn recover, does anyone know ?

[theherd123]

Ohh thats new to me too! I've owned a male dog for over 12 years and have never had patches on the lawn.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Our lawn was laid 2 weeks ago exactly and there are 3 or 4 yellow patches on the edge where he pees against a bush and it obviously drips down onto the grass .

 

I've been researching this a bit and have found quite a few mentions of ACV in dogs' water to prevent lawn burn .

 

Seeing as I have some of that for the chickens already, I think I might give it a go .

 

Another option is to train him to pee somewhere else but I reckon that would be quite hard. After all, you can't teach an old dog new tricks .

[Redwing]

There are some dog tablets called Green Um that prevent lawn burn by doing something to the wee (oooh! technical...)

 

I have no experience of dog rocks but apparently they sell quite well

 

keeping a watering can of water is good if you can get straight out there after him and water the spot but hey life is too short!

[fluffyknickers]

When I bought ACV they asked if it was for dogs or horses - said neither it was for chickens. they looked at me like I was deluded!

 

x

[Raina]

You could always try tomato juice....if it works for female dogs it should work for males

[bronze]

Dog rocks did nothing here though we have a "Ooops, word censored!"

[bronze]

sorry girl dog

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You could always try tomato juice....if it works for female dogs it should work for males

 

How does that work? Do you pour a bit onto their food each day?

 

I'm loathe to try the dog rocks - they would cost a lot per year and could end up costing more than new turf .

[Raina]

Yep i think you pour it onto their food.

 

 

not 100% sure though as we've never tried it.

 

 

Quite a few people use that method though and it does work.

[stoice]

You could always try tomato juice....if it works for female dogs it should work for males

 

I found this...

"Many dietary modifications to control nitrogen content in the urine have been tried for dogs, often based on home remedies or anecdotal experience. A veterinarian should always be consulted before an owner makes any dietary modifications, whether they include additions or subtractions from standard nutrient guidelines.

 

The pH of urine has little or no effect on urine damage to lawns.

 

The addition of acidifying agents, including such nutritional supplements as DL-methionine (methio-form),1 ascorbic acid (vitamin C), or fruit juices, has no benefit and may predispose a dog to developing an increased incidence of certain bladder stones. Likewise, alkalinizing agents, including baking soda and potassium citrate (UrocitK), can predispose a dog to other types of bladder stones or infections. These dietary supplements can be harmful and have limited to no known benefits to the lawn. Thus, they are not recommended.

 

When owners have reported successes, they often can be attributed to increasing the dog's liquid consumption, which dilutes the urine concentration. However, safer ways to accomplish more dilute urine include feeding canned food, moistening dry food with water before feeding, and adding salt or garlic salt to the regular food.

 

One home remedy, tomato juice, likely has its primary benefit through both increased salt and water intake. While salt can make a dog drink more and thereby dilute the urine, increased salt intake can also cause problems in dogs with existing kidney or heart conditions. With high doses of salt, even healthy dogs can develop hypernatremia Therefore, owners should not alter their dog's diet without consulting with their veterinarian. Dogs with more dilute urine may have to urinate more frequently and therefore may need more frequent elimination opportunities. Although specific breed differences have not been noted, smaller dogs do produce less urine than larger dogs, so they are dumping less nitrogen waste.

 

Dog owners who actually note that their dog's urine is no longer causing lawn burn, without having made any dietary changes, should have their dog examined by a veterinarian and a urinalysis conducted to make sure no medical conditions are causing the change."

 

 

ANH - It usually happens with female dogs because they squat and pour their wee onto the lawn in a puddle. A male dog usually raises it's leg against something which means yellow grass around, say, a tree, wouldn't be noticed as much. If your male dog isn't old enough to raise his leg yet or just goes in the same places then you will notice it just as you would for a female.

 

I think there are some breeds of dog (male or female) that doesn't burn the lawn but I can't find any info on that right now.

 

I had asked about dog rocks before here if you'd like to read my replies.

 

Could you provide a certain area - gravel maybe? for him to go on?

 

I think I've just resigned myself to a patchy lawn.

[chooklady]

You could always try tomato juice....if it works for female dogs it should work for males

 

I was going to suggest that. Something with tomato mixed in with their food, passata something like that would proabaly work.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Thanks Stoice (I hadn't noticed your previous post, mainly because then we didn't have a nice enough lawn to notice burns on it!)

 

I started adding ACV to his water yesterday but I may stop it after reading that report .

 

I've radically cut back the bush he's been weeing against so the wee will fall onto the flowerbed rather than the grass. That does seem to be the main place he goes so fingers crossed.