After spending all day Saturday tending to the yard, the last thing you want is your dog to walk outside Sunday morning and immediately kill the grass with their urine. “Lawn bur,n” or yellow, dead grass,s is caused by high nitrogen levels in your dog’s urine. Though we typically think of pee as acidic, it’s actually a 5.5–7 on the pH scale and can be higher if a significant level of nitrogen is present.

Excessive nitrogen levels can be caused by eating a diet too rich in proteins or not drinking enough water. Your dog’s food can combat the problem if you give them a high-quality diet that contains a larger amount of moisture and a lesser amount of protein than they have been eating. In this article, we have reviews of the top dog foods that address these issues and offer your pet a well-balanced diet.

Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 6 Best Dog Foods to Prevent Lawn Burn

1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall

Fresh is always best for your pet and for the grass. Prepared meals are better suited for treating lawn burns because they contain more moisture than dry food, which has been stripped of its moisture due to the roasting process. We like The Farmer’s Dog because it produces four simple recipes that ship right to your door.

The Turkey Recipe is our choice for the best overall dog food to prevent lawn burn because it has a lower protein content than the other brands and 76% moisture. Plus, turkey is a great alternative to chicken or beef, which frequently causes allergic reactions in canines despite their popularity. Although The Farmer’s Dog isn’t available in stores, you can easily set up a subscription online that’s tailored to your pet’s needs.

The only downside is it’s a little expensive, and all of their recipes, including Turkey, are grain-free. After the 2018 FDA study on grain-free diets, we wish this recipe did not have chickpeas and included some heart-healthy grains like oats.

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2. Purina ONE Tender Cuts in Gravy – Budget Buy

If fresh food just isn’t in the budget, we understand! Purina ONE Tender Cuts in Gravy Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe is the best dog food for the money because it still delivers high-moisture, low-protein food without the cost of a subscription service.

This recipe features lamb and chicken broth as the first ingredient and includes a healthy supply of chicken, lamb, and pork meat. While we’re not crazy about the wheat gluten and soy flour additives, we appreciate the vitamin blend and think it’s not too bad for a low-budget option. We also like how this recipe includes brown rice, which is a good source of fiber and whole grains.

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3. The Honest Kitchen One Pot Stew Wet Dog Food

As our third choice, the Honest Kitchen’s stew uses high-quality ingredients that, unfortunately, come at a high cost. Using it as a meal topper might be beneficial if you want some of the perks without the price.

Turkey is the first ingredient, followed by turkey bone broth and quinoa, which is a healthy grain. Since it’s a stew, it has a high moisture content of 82%, which should give your grass some relief. Dogs love carrots and broccoli, which are the other main ingredients.

One of the best qualities is that it has the advantages of a meal subscription service, but it’s easier to control your dog’s portions and how much you buy. The Honest Kitchen is available at some pet stores and on Chewy.

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4. Purina ONE Classic Ground Healthy

This recipe is similar to the Purina ONE Lamb & Long Grained Rice for adults but is for puppies. Unlike the adult version, it contains ocean fish in addition to lamb, chicken, and pork. The 78% moisture content should help your grass, and despite having so many meats, there isn’t an excessive amount of protein.

We like Purina ONE’s Smartblend Classic because it’s an all-natural food formulated for growing dogs. It’s more expensive than kibble but won’t hurt your wallet as badly as subscription plans. Purine ONE isn’t a great choice if you suspect your puppy may have a food allergy because it contains many proteins, including chicken, which is a common culprit.

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5. Ollie Lamb Dish with Cranberries

Ollie is another fresh food service, and we especially like the Lamb Dish with Cranberries recipe because lamb isn’t known to be a common food allergen. A dog who’s allergic to an ingredient in their food can give your beautiful yard other issues besides strong pee! Ollie’s Lamb Dish has a high moisture content of 70%, which is great for diluting their pee, and a protein content of 11%, which is a healthy but not excessive amount.

We like how this recipe uses cranberries and kale, which are superfoods. We also like how it includes rice for fiber. We’re not too fond of the chickpeas due to the 2018 study by the FDA, but at least this isn’t a grain-free recipe. Like all subscription services, Ollie is more expensive than your average fare.

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6. Just Food for Dogs Chicken & White Rice Recipe

We highly recommend the Just for Dogs Chicken & White Rice meal because it’s an excellent, human-grade food formulated for all life stages. The 72% moisture content is beneficial for dogs with strong urine because it helps dilute it, and 8% protein isn’t an excessive amount that would lead to a high nitrogen content.

Unlike most meal subscriptions, Just Food for Dogs is available on Chewy to buy once or eligible for auto-ship. This makes meal planning for your pup much easier because you can just add their food to their standard order instead of going to the store or setting up a separate subscription plan.

Unfortunately, Just Food for Dogs is expensive, like most fresh dog food. The Chicken & White Rice recipe isn’t a good match for your dog if you suspect they might have food allergies.

Buyer’s Guide: Which Dog Food Is Best to Avoid Lawn Burn

Your dog and your lawn can have a symbiotic or toxic relationship, depending on how you treat them both. Chemical insecticides and pesticides in your yard can be harmful to dogs, but a dog with a high urine pH can kill the grass. Although supplements and home remedies claim they lower the pH of your dog’s urine, we don’t recommend them because they might cause kidney damage.

We recommend cutting to the chase and dealing with the problem as naturally as possible. For your yard, you can use non-toxic pesticides and insecticides for your yard that won’t harm your dog. You can also dilute your dog’s urine with water from a hose or sprinkler.

You can try one of the recommended brands for your dog since they shouldn’t cause excessive nitrogen build-up in your dog’s body, especially if they drink plenty of water. Some elements we looked for in foods to prevent lawn burn include:

High moisture content

Digesting kibble takes more water out of your dog’s body through their poop, leaving their urine more concentrated as a result. Fresh food supplies your dog with extra hydration beyond what they’re receiving from the water bowl.

Moderate protein content

Protein is one of the most vital nutrients for your dog. You shouldn’t feed them a low-protein diet unless medically necessary, but at the same time, a high-protein diet may cause a build-up of nitrogen. You should aim for a moderate amount of protein in their food to maintain a good balance.

Not as likely to cause GI issues

We noted which brands are more allergen-friendly than others because urine isn’t the only substance that can wreck your yard! Dogs who have trouble processing their food may develop chronic diarrhea, which dehydrates them further and can lead to further health problems. If your dog becomes dehydrated, their pee will be more concentrated than if they retained a healthy amount of water through the digestive process.

In Conclusion

The Farmer’s Dog Turkey Recipe recipe was our overall best choice because it’s a simple, fresh recipe that contains a lot of moisture and all-natural, human-grade ingredients. Purina ONE Tender Cuts in Gravy Lamb & Brown Rice is our best-value choice because it’s a high-quality wet food that isn’t as expensive as fresh meals.

If you have a little more room in your budget, The Honest Kitchen One Pot Stew Tender Turkey is our third choice because of its excellent ingredients and high moisture content. Purina One Smartblend Classic Puppy Lamb & Brown Rice is our top choice for growing pups who need some staying hydrated.

Ollie’s Lamb & Cranberries is a healthy, fresh food that doesn’t contain common allergens like chicken or beef. Hopefully, your lawn will look better once your dog is settled on a high-moisture, well-balanced diet.

See also:

• Cesar Dog Food Review
• Loyall Life Dog Food Review

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Featured Image Credit: Diego Sene, Shutterstock