This, of course, makes your job of detection a little more challenging. Instead of looking for yelping or crying, detection of pain involves studying changes in your dog’s behaviour. Is he avoiding activities that he used to do easily in the past — jumping down from the couch, climbing down stairs? Or does he lag during the last part of his walk?

Controlling Pain

Pain doesn’t do your dog any good at all. It makes his favourite activities such as a walk or a game of ball less enjoyable for him. If he has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, good pain control will make a big difference to his quality of life.

If you think your dog may be suffering from arthritis, talk to your vet. A vet is the only person who can diagnose arthritis, and prescribe medication to manage the condition. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually the first choice of pain medications for osteoarthritis.

You should never give human drugs to your dog, and in fact don’t give him any medication except under medical supervision. There could be serious side effects, including death, if the wrong medication or an incorrect dose is used.

Joint Supplements

Although it’s better to act before arthritis becomes a problem, canine arthritis treatment is still a great option for dogs that already have it. Arthritis isn’t curable but can be managed effectively using treatments that focus on reducing pain and inflammation, slowing the progression of the disease, facilitating the repair of damaged tissues and maintaining or improving joint function.

If your vet prescribes an NSAID for your dog, you may want to ask your vet about using a nutritional joint supplement, such as Supleneo Flex in addition to using the prescribed NSAID.

Supleneo flex is a daily supplement, which is suitable for all breeds, sizes and ages of dog and contains the key ingredients that can improve joint health, such as glucosamine. In addition, Supleneo flex’s natural liver flavour means dogs love the taste, making it’s easy and fun to give them their supplement every day. It is low calorie, so you can give it to your dog, instead of a treat.

For further information go to www.freedomtomove.co.uk

Things To Note With Pain Management

While pain relief has been shown that in some instances it can help recovery, if your dog over-extends himself the opposite can be true. Regular controlled exercise is the best option for optimum long-term recovery and management.

Another thing to watch for is side effects. All drugs have them, but if you give your dog his medication according to your vet’s directions, the risks are very small. If he is taking long-term medication, you can expect your vet to recommend regular blood tests just to make sure everything is okay on the inside.

For further information about canine arthritis and canine arthritis treatment, including an on-line symptom checker please go to www.freedomtomove.co.uk

Assessing Your Dog’s Risk Profile

There are a number of factors that define whether or not your dog is at risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Breed

Although osteoarthritis can strike any dog, some breeds are at higher risk than others. Such breeds include German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and Rottweilers. Also, in general, large breed dogs are more prone than their small breed companions.

Parent History

Osteoarthritis has a significant genetic component. If at all possible, find out as much as you can about your dog’s parent’s medical history. Responsible breeders also x-ray their adult dogs before they are mated and you should be able to see the results of these x-rays. By doing this, you can reduce the chances of your own pup growing up with osteoarthritis.

Lifestyle

If your dog is a working dog or is involved in other strenuous activity, the chances of injury and associated osteoarthritis increases. At the other extreme, if your dog does not get enough exercise and his weight drifts above normal, his susceptibility also rises.

Weight is a simple matter to control, but it does demand that you remain on the ball. Moderate, regular exercise and careful control of your dog’s food intake will help to keep him safe.

Diet

Diet, especially in the growth phase of large-breed dogs, is very important. Too many or too few nutrients can result in growth abnormalities that will predispose your pet to injury and later, osteoarthritis.

Joint Supplements

Whatever the age of your dog, you can give them the freedom to move easily, by caring for their joints. Joint supplements, such as Supleneo flex, are commonly used to support joint and cartilage health. When used alongside appropriate nutrition and exercise, these supplements can help your dog to stay fit and active and are a great canine arthritis treatment.

Supleneo flex is a daily supplement, which is suitable for all breeds, sizes and ages of dog and contains the key ingredients that can improve joint health, such as glucosamine. In addition, Supleneo flex’s natural liver flavour means dogs love the taste, making it’s easy and fun to give them their supplement every day. It is low calorie, so you can give it to your dog, instead of a treat.

For further information go to www.freedomtomove.co.uk

Get Your Veterinarian’s Advice

Talk to your veterinarian about your concerns. They have been trained to look for specific markers of osteoarthritis. In all likelihood, besides going over what we have just discussed, they will examine your dog with both a physical check and by taking radiographs. Having said that, bear in mind that it is somewhat difficult to assess the risk of osteoarthritis using such tests.

The fact that you are reading this already suggests that you are responsible owner. Great! Owner knowledge and watchfulness are the keys to your dog’s joint health, so you are already on the right track. The earlier you detect signs of osteoarthritis, the better your dog’s prognosis.

For further information about canine arthritis and canine arthritis treatment, including an on-line symptom checker please go to www.freedomtomove.co.uk

What Your Vet Will Look For

History. Your veterinarian will start by taking a history of your dog’s recent behaviour, trying to identify any changes that point to pain. Often, just chatting to your vet about your dog will trigger memories that had eluded you earlier.

Gait. You will be asked to walk your dog up and down either in the consulting room or in the clinic car park while your veterinarian examines his gait. Make sure you make him move at different paces because a limp may be more obvious at a trot than at a walk.

Physical Examination. Next, your veterinarian will carry out a thorough physical examination. The aim is to localise the pain while also looking for other indicators of osteoarthritis, such as swelling of a joint and decreased range of motion.

Diagnostic Testing

Based on your dog’s age, breed and weight, and the results of their examination, your vet will suspect that osteoarthritis is causing his pain. However, she may also recommend further testing if she feels it is necessary.

X-Rays. It’s a standard procedure to take x-rays of joints that are thought to be affected by osteoarthritis. These may show excessive fluid in the joint cavity and irregularities in the bone.

Blood work. This will help to identify whether there is infection anywhere in the body (including the joints) and if your dog’s immune system is involved in causing his sore joints. It can also point to the presence of a whole body disease that can cause arthritis such as Lyme Disease. Another important advantage of doing blood tests is to assess how well your dog’s liver and kidney are working. Some arthritis treatments can adversely affect these organs and if there’s a pre-existing condition, an alternative treatment can be chosen.

Joint fluid sample. Your veterinarian may use a needle to extract fluid from the joint to look for markers of inflammation or infection.

Bone nuclear scintigraphy, MRI, CT. If your veterinarian is still unsure of the diagnosis, she may suggest bone nuclear scintigraphy, MRI or CT scans. These tests usually require referral to an orthopaedic specialist.

Canine Arthritis Treatment Options

There is no cure for osteoarthritis and the disease is progressive, but treatment will reduce the pain and slow the disease’s progression. Your veterinarian may recommend a combination of the following:

• Weight control
• Dietary change
• Controlled exercise and physical therapy
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Painkillers
• Disease modifying agents
• Nutritional joint supplements, such as Supleneo flex

Supleneo flex is a daily supplement, which is suitable for all breeds, sizes and ages of dog and contains the key ingredients that can improve joint health, such as glucosamine. In addition, Supleneo flex’s natural liver flavour means dogs love the taste, making it’s easy and fun to give them their supplement every day. It is low calorie, so you can give it to your dog, instead of a treat.

For further information go to www.freedomtomove.co.uk

Dealing with canine osteoarthritis primarily requires a change in perspective. The initial changes to yours and your pet’s lifestyle are not going to be easy but, in a while, you will realize that the diagnosis is not the end of the world. With your help, your pet can continue to look forward to a high quality of life for years to come.

For further information about canine arthritis and canine arthritis treatment, including an on-line symptom checker please go to www.freedomtomove.co.uk

So, here’s how you do it.

There are however, a few circumstances that seem to make some animals more prone to this disease than others…

What is Mange?

Mange is caused by tiny parasites known as mites, of which there are three main types within the UK: Sarcoptes, Cheyletiella and Demodectes.

Sarcoptic Mange in Dogs

Sarcoptic Mange can also be known by the name “Scabies”. It is a highly contagious mite and is often picked up from places where lots of dogs congregate, for example boarding or rehoming kennels, parks and groomers. The mites prefer to invade areas with little hair cover, so you tend to see the first signs around the belly, chest, tips of ears, armpits and elbows. If left, the disease can spread to eventually cover the whole body.

Sarcoptic mites burrow deep into the skin, releasing a highly irritating substance as they go. This leads to intense, all-consuming itching, hair loss, crusting and sores ultimately causing inappetence, weight loss, depression and irritability, often displayed as aggression. It is a severely debilitating disease and treatment should always be sought as early as possible.

Importantly, Sarcoptic Mange is contagious not only to other animals with contact to the pet, but also to humans as well.

Cheyletiellosis in Dogs

Cheyletiellosis is also a very contagious form of mange, contracted through close contact with an infected animal. It tends to be picked up from areas many dogs are in contact, such as boarding or rehoming kennels, parks or groomers. It can cause a mild form in humans as well.

Cheyletiellosis is often referred to as “Walking Dandruff”, so called due to a classic tell-tale sign. The mites live on the surface of the skin and tend to cause an appearance of bad scurf, mainly over the head, neck and back. If flakes of this dandruff are brushed onto dark card, they can often be seen to move, or “walk” due to the mites clinging to the flakes = walking dandruff. This form of mange does not tend to cause an intense itch and is mostly seen in youngsters.

Demodectic Mange in Dogs

This is by far the most common form of mange in dogs. It is not contagious to other dogs or humans, being seen mostly in juveniles.

The demodex mite is found on the skin of most normal animals, inclusive of humans. Typically they do not cause any problems, being present in extremely low numbers. However in some circumstances, believed to be through stress, illness or malnourishment, the mites overwhelm the immature immune system of the juvenile dog and demodectic mange is seen. This is complicated by the fact demodex in large numbers is thought to suppress the bodies natural immune system, setting up a vicious circle.

Typical signs include fur loss, scaling and reddened skin around the eyes, on the paws, ears and edges of mouth. These patches do not tend to be initially itchy. If left, patches can start to appear on other areas of the body, eventually spreading to be all encompassing. Secondary bacterial infections are quite a common complication due to the mites multiplying in hair follicles.

Demodectic mange is thought to have a heritable component as some breeds are more affected than others. Those at risk include Staffordshire bull terriers, boxer dogs, bulldogs, Dobermans and Alaskan malamutes. Due to this, it is recommended any sufferers of demodectic mange are not bred from.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Due to the debilitating nature of the disease, veterinary attention should be sought for any animal suspected of suffering from mange.

Vets will usually perform a skin scrape to try to gain a diagnosis. This involves gently scraping an area of skin affected in order to remove some surface layers to view under a microscope. If mites are within the sample, they can be easily detected, with their appearance telling the vet exactly what type of mange the animal is suffering from. A negative skin scrape however, does not rule out mange – it could simply be the mites are difficult to detect. In that case treatment is often based on history and presenting symptoms.

Treatment often involves the use of special shampoos which kill the mites, alongside antibiotics if required for secondary infections and general supportive care. Treatment time can be lengthy and full compliance is needed in order to rid your pet of mange. The good news is with prompt veterinary treatment the prognosis is generally good for animals suffering from mange, with most hair loss coming back in time.

So as you can see, mange is not just a disease that can affect a dirty, uncared for dog, – even the most pampered of pooches is at risk. But just remember if you see the signs, act fast. In this type of disease a vets help is the best help.

For more information and advice on pet health products available, visit Norbrook’s pet health website http://www.norbrook.com/pets-health/

Where Do Dog Fleas Come From?

Fleas would easily win the gold medal in the long jump stakes. They are able to jump a distance of up to 150 times their own body length, meaning they can simply jump from another dog or the surrounding environment onto your pet with ease. It is not just unhealthy dogs that are at risk – even the most well looked after pooch can fall victim to fleas, these parasites are not picky.

Once a flea has settled into the cosy environment of your pet’s fur, it starts to bite and suck blood. To nourish her eggs, a female flea requires a high performance diet, drinking up to 15 times her own body weight in blood daily. This means in heavy flea infestations, your pet, especially if young or under the weather, could actually be at risk of developing the serious disease of anaemia. This is one of the reasons it is important to keep these blood sucking pests at bay.

Once on a pet, an adult flea prefers to spend all their life there. And who could blame them, a nice warm blanket of hair covering an ever ready food source sounds like flea heaven! A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day which can drop off your dog into your home. These hatch to form tiny larvae. Larvae hate light and try to crawl away from it as much as they can, deep into carpet pile, crevices in skirting boards, under sofa’s, in bedding. Once there they spin a protective cocoon and develop into an adult flea. These cocooned fleas are hardy critters and can survive in your home for anything up to a year. Once mature, they wait for heat and vibrations to stimulate them to hatch as this means there is a host around. After emergence as a fully-fledged adult flea they hop onto your pet – or even you! – And the whole cycle starts again.

Adult fleas only make up 5% of the total flea population in an infected household, which means 95% of fleas are around you but you can not see them! Apart from the adult flea, the other stages of the life cycle are extremely small. The larvae hide so far away from light that it would take a powerful magnifying glass and a lot of effort to be able to spot one hidden away. So remember, if you see a flea on your pet, which may not even be half of the story.

As well as causing an itchy bite, some animals can develop terrible allergies to fleas. It is more common than you may think, with flea allergy dermatitis affecting up to 15% of the total dog population. A single flea bite can cause an appalling, irritating skin reaction leading to substantial fur loss, redness of the skin and a generally depressed pet. It is all down to being sensitive to flea saliva, which is reported as being the most irritating substance on the planet – quite impressive for an insect only 1mm long! It is vitally important to try and keep these animals flea free.

A small fact with an important consequence, fleas can also transmit tape worms. If your dog accidentally swallows an infected flea, say through grooming, it could lead to tape worms developing inside your pets intestines. Therefore if you have found a flea infection, it is important to consider worming your pet too.

Checking A Dog For Fleas

This should be quite easy. Adult fleas are about 1mm long, dark brown – black critters. They are very fast moving so you are unlikely to be able to pluck one from your pet’s coat. There may only be a few adults present at any time, so even if you don’t see any scurrying around, it does not mean your pet can’t have fleas.

What A Flea Really Looks Like!

The best thing to look out for is the tell-tale sign of flea dirt. This is effectively flea faeces and is made up of dried, ingested blood. It looks like tiny black, shiny flecks of pepper in amongst your pet’s fur. The best place to spot this is around your pet’s rump – just behind the base of the tail above the hips. Here fur is at its thickest making it the prime spot for fleas to hang out. To check the black spots are flea dirt and not just a bit of mud, try and dab some flecks off onto a piece of damp cotton wool. Leave the cotton wool for a few minutes. If a reddish tinge develops around the flecks, this is blood and proves you have a flea problem.

How To Treat Fleas In Dogs

There are many products available to protect your pet from fleas. It is worth remembering however, that only 5% of fleas are actually on your pet itself. Therefore, to provide full flea protection it is important to treat your home as well.

For more information and advice on pet health products available, visit Norbrook’s pet health website http://www.norbrook.com/pets-health/

They say that a dog is a man’s best friend and I agree. If your dog has been ill or had an operation of some kind, you will have to give him some special care and attention. The kind of attention that a poorly man in bed with a really heavy cold clambers for. Dogs need love and affection the majority of the time anyway, but while he is convalescing he will need extra care and attention. You will probably have to give him medicine, keep an eye on any surgical wound and change bandages. Nutrition and feeding are also important. Your extra attention will help him to recover quickly.

The recovery process of a dog is a lot quicker that a human’s and a lot quicker than a male human. However that doesn’t mean that you can leave them to recover alone. Your dog may need to eat special food and at the start you may have to coax him to eat. But once the process begins, you will find that the dog heals a lot quicker than us humans.

Your dog needs plenty of sleep, rest and peace. However, this is nothing to worry about, as this is a natural reaction to illness or surgery. It means that your dog is conserving energy while his tissues heal and his body gets back to normal.

Good nutrition is especially important for a convalescing dog as if he doesn’t eat properly at the beginning of the healing process, his wounds may not heal right away and he is more likely to get an infection. Supplying the right amount of high quality nutrients will prevent your dog’s body from using its own important tissues as a source of energy. All dogs should eat a nutritionally balanced diet, convalescing or not, but when a dog is in the convalescing stage he will need all the essential proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins in the correct proportion. The balance of what is required will have probably changed and his normal diet may not provide the correct balance.

The correct balancing of the nutrients required allows the convalescing period of a dog to be quite quick. It’s a common fact that dogs are unbelievably quick heelers and don’t spend much time in their sick beds. While this may be true, it’s down to the fact that we are normally giving them the correct medical attention.

While he is recovering, a dog may have a poor appetite and you may be required to encourage him to eat. Your vet will probably prescribe a special diet that covers all of the dietary needs of your dog.

A close eye needs to be kept on your dog while he is convalescing. Stroke and groom him gently, and keep a look out for any changes in his coat or skin. If he has had surgery check to see if this area has any redness or discharge and tell your vet, straight away, if you notice anything that appears unusual.

Always remember to give the full course of any medicines that your vet prescribes, even though your dog seems better. Stopping the medication may cause your dog to get worse and could potentially make future treatments somewhat difficult. Your vet will always be on hand to offer any advice that you may require. This is what they are paid for, they can show you how to give the medicine and how to change bandages, splints and casts.

When I have a tooth problem I consult my dentist. The same thing should apply to you if you think that your dog is suffering during his convalescing period. RING THE VET. They are there to serve a purpose – to look after poorly animals. Use their skills, use their knowledge and utilise their advice.

As mentioned before, dogs are unbelievably fast healers, that is if, of course, given the initial care and attention from the start of the process. A dog recovering from pretty severe injuries can be an amazing sight to behold. Hold on, surely a man can recover from his injuries quicker than a dog?

I went on a mission, the mission to find, to prove one way or another that us men were able to recuperate better than the species we called canine. My research led me to this remarkable but true incident.

Thieves, in Suffolk targeted a kennel that was a regular haunt for top champion dogs. Their aim was to steal a bitch to breed. They stole two dogs and half a mile up the road they realised that they had a dog and a bitch. Obviously not wanting the male as they intended to use the female to breed, they threw him out of a moving vehicle, where he fell into a ditch and heartlessly drove away.

The dog lay in the ditch for four days solid and was not able to move. A postman, on a bike, eventually spotted him and knowing of a recent dog theft he informed the kennels. The kennel staff went to collect the dog and took him to the vets, where the vet confirmed that he had broken both his front legs. Unfortunately, one of the legs was beyond repair and one his front legs had to be amputated.

Twelve hours later, that’s right, twelve hours later, and obviously a leg shorter he was back in his kennel, where he was wagging his tail, eating his food like a pig and generally getting on with life as if nothing had ever happened. Bearing in mind that this poor dog had lay in a ditch for four days, with two of his legs broken, I think that this is a remarkable recovery.

I can assure you that this story is true. Unfortunately, I cannot find a male volunteer to go through the same ordeal, get kidnapped, thrown out of a moving car, fall into a ditch, lay there for four days with two broken legs, finally get found and taking to hospital where they remove one of your legs. Then, twelve hours later you are ambulanced back to your home where you then go about your business as normal.

I think that I, personally, would have wept like a baby upon being kidnapped, offered them my switch debit card, and shouting out my pin number as I was flung from the car. Taking things seriously though, with the injuries sustained I would probably have given up on the second or third day and gone to meet my maker in the sky, if not sooner. Of course, it is all hypothetical, but that story makes you think how and why dogs deal with illness and injury the way that they do, and how their minds work.

Obviously, emotion plays a part in the whole process, man has evolved to be emotional and I guess that means that we experience and feel pain on a greater level. It is obviously a different feeling for a canine to be seriously injured or seriously ill, they will have some emotional feelings but I don’t think that they can comprehend what has happened to them. Their ultimate goal is to get better so that they can be on their paws in no time. Worry is another emotion that we are graciously blessed with. A man terminally ill from cancer is bound to show worry and question “why me”. When a dog is terminally ill from cancer it is us that seems to do the worrying still, and the dog seems to carry on as normal. You sometimes wish that a dog could talk and it could tell you how it was feeling, or it could ask for a cuddle and a hug. We tend to think that a dog has the same emotions as us, but it is simply not the case. Their lesser emotions have made them stronger and, maybe, even more resilient than us. ]]> http://www.petlibrary.co.uk/1/caring-for-a-convalescing-dog/feed/ 0 http://www.petlibrary.co.uk/1/dog-fleas-summer/ http://www.petlibrary.co.uk/1/dog-fleas-summer/#comments Thu, 26 Jul 2012 10:43:20 +0000 Pet Library Editor http://www.petlibrary.co.uk/1/?p=2088

Some pet owners will already have had the unfortunate luck to discover that fleas are a problem throughout all year round, but some may not. Micro-climates in homes, gardens and parks allow them to survive during the coldest winters; however fleas are a bigger issue in summer as warmth and humidity can speed up their life cycle. An abundance of wildlife also contributes to the flea population your pets are exposed to outdoors. These factors increase the risk of developing a flea infestation within your home during warmer months.

Breaks in protection (even during winter, a time pet owners may have thought flea problems didn’t occur) allow hitch-hikers to survive on pets and contaminate your home with eggs. During winter the life cycle is slower and cocoons in the home are not hatching frequently – you won’t realise an infestation is developing. By the time summer comes around, the flea population hidden in your home will be extensive and your pets will consistently be covered in fleas. You may even find that you’re being bitten around the ankles.

"Hundreds of thousands of our dogs are suffering every minute of the day with really painful joints and there's a strong chance that yours could be one of them. The funny thing is that you wouldn't know because they will only yelp if they experience sharp pain, like stepping on glass, but with a gnawing pain like arthritis they'll just put up with it and it'll get worse and worse."

Joe continues,

"People need to take action, check out their dog and take them to the vet for a professional diagnosis. Once the condition has been identified, it can be treated immediately and your dog can be back to fighting fit condition.

Symptoms of Canine Osteoarthritis Include:

- Licking or self injury
- Reluctance to walk or play
- Difficulty in getting up, climbing stairs and/or jumping into the car
- Limping or stiffness
– Change in character or aggression
- Reduced interaction with people
- Reduced appetite
- Increase in anxiety/clinginess

Find out more: http://www.k9magazine.com/arthritis-in-dogs ]]> http://www.petlibrary.co.uk/1/what-are-the-symptoms-of-arthritis-in-dogs/feed/ 0 http://www.petlibrary.co.uk/1/dog-urine-grass/ http://www.petlibrary.co.uk/1/dog-urine-grass/#comments Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:41:21 +0000 Pet Library Editor http://www.petlibrary.co.uk/1/?p=2072 Dog urine can kill your lovely green grass. It’s a problem many a dog owner has faced and it causes frustration and annoyance that on the one hand we want our dogs to enjoy our garden, on the other, WE want to enjoy our garden as well!

Our well kept lawn is now looking more like a patchwork of green and brown circles because our beloved dog has seen fit to create their own little patterns.

We spend money on our lovely garden and then along comes Fido and turns it in to a mini version of the Sahara. If they’re not digging it up, they’re ruining it with their toilet habits. Of course, it’s really not their fault. I’m positive if your dog knew how, he’d process his internal chemicals to such an extent that instead of killing our lawn, his toilet trips were able to grow us a beautiful little flower to remind us just why we love him so much!

In reality, dog owners with ‘doggy patches’ all over their grass is a problem we can solve with just a few simple steps.

How to Stop Dog Urine Killing Your Grass

Bev McDonald offers her insight in to how she tackled this common canine problem….

It never fails, my two dogs – both lovable and protective Rottweilers – seem to enjoy urinating in the same spot of the backyard, day in, day out. Whether it’s morning, noon or night, it’s down the steps and to the right, donating copious amounts of healthy, adult dog urine in an approximate 4-square-foot area.

The result is a large patch of brown, ugly, burned-out lawn that surrounds the bottom step of the deck. For my nicely landscaped backyard, the large urine burns are rather unsightly.

I realized that unless some serious changes are made (and getting rid of the dogs was NOT an option), then these spots were not going to go away on their own, so I had to start my research and will not share with you what I learned to keep my grass green and my dogs happy and to try and prevent dog urine killing my lawn.

Why Dog Urine Turns Grass Brown

It’s no secret that urine burns grass, as well as many types of shrubs, annual flowers and perennial plants. What causes the burn is nitrogen. When a dog eats a meal, the protein in the food is metabolized. A byproduct of metabolized protein is nitrogen.

The kidneys are responsible for the collection and secretion of many of the body’s unwanted excesses, including byproducts of metabolized foods, such as nitrogen. So, if all is going well with the dog’s bodily functions then excess nitrogen will be flushed out of the dog’s body through his urine.

Here is where things get a bit tricky: Those who work with lawns and plants know that nitrogen is used as fertilizer. So what’s so special about the nitrogen in dog urine that causes it to kill everything green it touches? The secret is in the solution, so to speak.

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With fertilizers containing nitrogen, a small amount goes a long way. If you’re using a rotary spreader (which is used to fertilize the lawn), spilling a pile of fertilizer in one spot would be similar to a pool of urine. The concentration would be too high and would kill the grass below.

Once grass is dead from nitrogen burn there’s not much you can do to revive it. If you want healthy green grass, you’re going to have to replant this area. You’ll need to rake up the dead grass and plant new seed.

Replanting dead areas, however, is somewhat of a “band-aid” approach. If you don’t get to the root of the problem (dog urine), you’re likely to wind up with more dead patches of grass all over the lawn.

So, without further ado here’s my top tip to stop dog urine destroying your lawn…

put a small blob of tomato ketchup in their food every day and watch what happens.

Sounds simple, yes? It is! Try it and observe.

So if you’re having similar problems with dog urine killing your lawn, now you have a workable solution that you can implement very easily.

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