Dog Urine Injury

Listen to the article

Have you noticed bright, lush green patches of lawn about the size of a softball scattered around the lawn? If you have then maybe you have a common problem associated with dogs, primarily females, commonly called "doggie spots."

This kind of injury is frequently mistaken for disease damage. Affected spots are usually round or slightly irregular. The grass within the spot turns brown or straw colored while the edges are bright green.

This spot results from the high nitrogen and salt content of dog urine. Given time the spot will repair itself as the high salt levels are depleted from the soil. The problem is more noticeable in under fertilized yards.

Consult your veterinarian for dog food products that may reduce the salt content of the urine. If not, live with the spots as they are part of the joys of pet ownership

Dennis Patton, DPatton@oznet.ksu.edu
County Extension Agent, Horticulture
Johnson County, Kansas
Kansas State University Research and Extension