Anybody who owns a pet is aware that one of the things they may have to deal with is foul and nasty odors. Even if your dog has been peeing in the backyard for years with no odor, it can appear out of nowhere for a variety of reasons.
We’ll go over how to get rid of dog urine stench in the backyard as well as how to avoid it in the future in this article.
Table of Contents
What makes your backyard stink of dog urine?
Perhaps you’ve detected an odor in your backyard that wasn’t there before, and you’re curious as to what caused it. Dog urine scents can be caused by a variety of factors.
Knowing what is producing the stink will assist you in not only removing but also preventing dog urine odor in your backyard.
Urinating in specific locations
You may notice that the odor of dog urine is stronger in some regions than in others. This is because dogs tend to go to the same spots to relieve themselves, resulting in a stronger odor.
Surfaces with pores
If your dog leaves a mark on a porous surface like concrete, it will soak it up completely. You might notice a heavier stink and discoloration in their chosen location over time.
Although there are methods for cleaning porous surfaces, you can also avoid them in the future. Both will be discussed later in this article.
Medical issues should always be ruled out.
Let’s start by making sure your pet is healthy before we talk about how to get rid of the odors. You should be aware of the following points:
- Medications can alter the pH of your dog’s urine and potentially increase the concentrations of urine and waste. If you notice any changes, talk to your veterinarian about the medication’s negative effects.
- Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are frequent in dogs. UTIs can affect male and female dogs, but female dogs are more susceptible. If there is a change in odor, bloody or murky urine, an increase in odor, or an increase in frequency and/or straining, call your doctor. If you suspect something strange, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
- Urination frequency might reveal a lot about your dog’s health. Some dogs may have difficulty peeing, urinate more frequently than expected, holding their urine, or being dribbling and incontinent. Inform your veterinarian of all of these changes, and bring your dog in if something isn’t right.
Eliminating backyard dog urine odor
Depending on where the dog’s urine odor is coming from, there are a few options for getting rid of it in your backyard. While the process will be the same no matter what, there will be some differences depending on the area.
Step 1: Locate the source
Initially, figure out where the odor is coming from. Because dogs like to eliminate their waste in the same spots, you should only have to clean those areas to eliminate the stink.
To find the source of your dog’s urination, pay attention to where he is urinating. You might use a black light at night to illuminate the problem regions.
Step 2: Make sure the area is clear
While cleaning the area, make sure that any dogs are kept inside. Remove any outdoor furniture, toys, or other anything that might be in the way of your cleaning.
Step 3: Clean up the area
- For damp places: If the area is wet, a hose with a nozzle attachment and a little soap should be enough to get rid of the scents. Set your nozzle to the greatest pressure and spray the area for a few minutes, or until it is totally covered in soapy water, then thoroughly rinse.
- For porous surfaces: If the urine is dry and the region is porous, such as cement, combine a little amount of bleach with water and cover the surface. Allow the mixture to rest for at least 10 minutes before thoroughly rinsing with water. If the odor persists after cleaning, the area may need to be agitated.
- For grassy areas: Garden lime should be sprinkled on grassy areas or other outdoor organic surfaces where dog urine is present. Garden lime can be purchased at a garden center or online. Because the urine has likely seeped deep into the soil, you’ll need to saturate it to totally eliminate the areas of stink; more is better than less. Soak the garden lime in water for a few minutes. This technique should not only remove any remaining scents but should also neutralize the acidity generated by the dog’s urine, allowing your grass to stay greener.
Step 4: Repeat as needed.
It’s possible that the stench won’t go gone completely in some cases. If the stink persists after you’ve completed all of the instructions, repeat them until your backyard is odor-free. If your dog continues to go potty in the same places, be sure to clean up after him on a frequent basis to keep the stench at bay.
The easiest approach to maintain your garden smelling fresh is to prevent the stink in the first place, which we’ll go into later in this post.
Other methods
If the previous solutions don’t work or you don’t have the necessary resources, there are a few further options. Other easy techniques to get rid of dog urine odor are listed below.
Turn the soil
If your dog relieves itself on hard-packed soil, it is most likely scorching in the sun and emitting an unpleasant odor. Take a shovel and turn the soil after they’ve gone potty.
This causes the soil to be disrupted, allowing it to biodegrade and neutralize the microorganisms that are causing the stink.
Enzymatic cleaning agents
If you have a lot of urine odors in your yard, you should try an enzymatic cleaner. They function by destroying the bacteria that generate the unpleasant odor in the urine. While these cleaners are most commonly used indoors, they can also be used outside.
Water
If you only have water on you, this incredibly eco-friendly approach can help to lessen and even eliminate dog urine stench. If you’re going to use water, you’ll need to be quick and use it right after your dog has gone to the bathroom.
Keep a watering can handy so you can immediately soak the urine with water and use it when your dog has finished going potty. Another solution is to invest in oscillating sprinklers, which will not only maintain your lawn healthy but will also assist in reducing the stink.
Baking soda
Baking soda is well-known for and used in a variety of cleaning solutions. It can also be used to eliminate pet odors from pavement and grass. Sprinkle it straight on the grass, concrete, or soil and let it rest until the moisture is absorbed completely before rinsing with water.
After putting the baking soda on porous surfaces like concrete, scrape it with just enough water to make it sud. After that, give it a thorough rinse.
Vinegar
Another home item that may be used to clean and neutralize scents is vinegar. Simply combine a teaspoon of apple cider or white vinegar with 4 cups of water in a spray bottle and spray the affected region. Allow it to sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off with water.
Citrus
Citrus liquids, such as lemon can also be utilized to get rid of unpleasant pet odors in the yard. Simply combine a teaspoon of lemon juice with 4 cups of water and use in a spray bottle as needed, similar to the vinegar mixture above.
Allow it to rest for a few minutes before rinsing with water.
Turf or dog lawns
For smaller breeds, some owners choose to use “dog lawns” or even construct specific turf and create a separate toilet area for their dogs. This adds a level of control.
Natural enzymatic cleaners can be used to disinfect the area even more effectively. Here are some options:
- Nature’s Miracle
- Simple Green
- Pee posts (pheromones to attract your pets to the area)
Make sure to thoroughly rinse these goods to avoid irritating your pet’s paws; do not pour these chemicals directly into rivers or street drains.
Dish soap
Dish soap is another easy but effective cure for dog urine odors. Dish soap’s key benefit is that it is inexpensive and widely available. The best part is that dish soap is safe for the grass and other plants in your yard.
In a spray bottle, combine one cup of dish soap with equal parts of water. If the dog urine is on concrete, you may wish to scrub it because it is less concentrated than vinegar and baking soda.
Essential oils
Essential oils are substances that have been extracted from plants. Due to their great concentration, essential oils have very strong fragrances. The strong, minty aroma of tea tree and neem oils makes them stand out.
Grapefruit seeds extract
This is another natural and biodegradable treatment for removing dog urine odor and stain, similar to the previous two. To wash any solid surface, including driveways, combine 15 drops of this extract with 1 gallon of water. It can also be used to clean upholstery.
Dog urine prevention
It may be easier to prevent dog urine odor once you’ve figured out how to get rid of it than it is to go through the techniques above again and again. The procedures listed below should help reduce the noxious odor in the future.
Build a simple dog run
It doesn’t have to be a strenuous effort to build your own dog run in your backyard. A dog run provides a designated area for your pet to run around and relieve themselves without the use of a leash.
This is a fantastic technique to not only decrease odor but also provide your dog with a safe space to exercise. You’ll only need a few items once you’ve decided on the best location for your dog to run in your backyard.
Train your dog to utilize a dog lawn
You can also train your dog to go on a more contained “dog lawn” to avoid pee odors on your grass and concrete. Many devices are available on the market to provide your dog with a distinct spot to relieve himself, and because they can be cleaned, urine odors can be considerably decreased!
Though many people use these products indoors, they can be a terrific method to keep your lawn free of urine odors.
Add a dog lawn
You can keep your dog from urinating and spreading stench around your property by using a dog lawn. The great thing about dog lawns is that they are simple to clean and relocate if necessary.
There are several variations on the market that are specifically made for dogs to relieve themselves. Although dog lawns are most commonly utilized indoors, they can also be used in the backyard.
Cayenne pepper
Cayenne pepper irritates a dog’s mucous membranes. Thus they prefer to avoid it at all costs.
It’s easy to keep a dog from peeing by using cayenne pepper as a repellant. Simply sprinkle a small amount of this pepper on the desired location. This approach also works as a urine odor neutralizer.
Alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol is widely used to treat wounds since it has powerful antibacterial capabilities as well as a strong odor that dogs dislike. Spray the targeted area with a mixture of 1 part alcohol and 2 parts water.
This technique can be used both inside and outside. However, it should never be used on plants. Also, make sure your dog doesn’t eat it because it can be toxic to animals.
Dietary supplement
Consider giving your dog a dietary supplement like PetHonesty Keep Grass Green Chews or Zesty Paws Stay Green Bites, which balances the pH and nitrogen in urine.
Natural components like cranberry, probiotics and apple cider vinegar are included in these supplements to keep your dog’s digestive system healthy and lower the quantity of nitrogen in his urine.
However, to neutralize the urine, most of these supplements contain DL-Methionine. This substance can be dangerous for dogs who already have liver or kidney illnesses.
Odor-eliminating products
On Amazon, you may find a variety of solutions to assist you in getting rid of the dog urine stench outside. The site’s best-selling product, Rocco & Roxie Supply Professional Strength Stain and Odor Eliminator, is formed of natural enzymatic bacteria that are triggered when they come into touch with odors and stains.
You can use the spray around your dog and children because it is chlorine-free and color-safe. It can be sprayed on any surface and will eliminate not only the stain but also the odor.
Nature’s Miracle Advanced Stain and Odor Eliminator Dog for Severe Dog Messes is another option. It eliminates urine, diarrhea, and vomit has a mild, fresh aroma, and deters your dog from soiling the same place.
Plus, Nature’s Miracle is a well-known brand among dog owners, with over 11,001 positive Amazon reviews and a 4.5/5 star rating.
Why does dog pee destroy grass?
The nitrogen content in dog urine is high. Some nitrogen is good for your grass; in fact, many lawn fertilizers have low nitrogen amounts. However, too much nitrogen causes the grass to burn.
Male dogs mark their territory in different regions and around trees, bushes, and other vertical objects, but female dogs crouch in one spot and do more damage.
Advantages of using odor eliminators
Odor eliminators are a niche product used by a small number of dog owners. Anyone who has used them, on the other hand, would tell you that it was one of the best landscaping decisions they’ve ever made!
The stink of dog urine isn’t supposed to be overpowering. A strong ammonia odor could indicate sickness or dehydration.
While you shouldn’t be able to smell your dog’s urine after just one excursion outside, things start to go wrong after a few trips. Dogs, after all, prefer to do their business in the same place every day.
Marking is the act of peeing. As a result, they tend to be concentrated in the same place. After a few days, the subtle pee odor turns into a foul nightmare! The presence of enzymes in the urine produces a noxious odor that persists.
Odor eliminators, on the other hand, eliminate the odor for good! It not only solves the immediate problem but also stops your dog from returning to the same location.
As a result, you’ll be able to avoid future odor issues.
Outside, there are different options for controlling pee odors. A yard deodorizer, on the other hand, is the most effective. The most common solution is to hose down the lawn.
This reduces the odor by diluting the collected urine enzymes. However, it does not eliminate it. Your dog will continue to try to improve its mark. Therefore this method is only temporary.
The only method to get rid of the stench and save your yard from becoming a stinky disaster is to use urine yard deodorizers.
How do odor eliminators work?
How can you get rid of the odor of dog urine outside? It’s as simple as spraying an odor remover. There are two types of these things.
They’re available as little granules or as a concentrated liquid. Both methods are equally effective. The only thing that differs is how you use them!
When using granules, you must spread the product throughout the soil so that it can decompose over time. To use a concentrate, dilute the substance and apply it to the lawn as a liquid fertilizer.
In either case, odor eliminators function by introducing healthy enzymes to your lawn. Enzymes are microscopic microorganisms that help break down the source of the odor: bacteria!
The enzymes decompose the germs that cause odors, leaving an odor-free environment. Most products function for several weeks, resulting in long-term results! Some can even help with grass discoloration.
Things to consider
You can utilize the above-mentioned products on their own or in combination with one another. For example, a few drops of essential oil can be added to the citrus rind solution, and grapefruit seed extract can be added to the baking soda solution.
Aside from these, vinegar and bleach can be turned into spraying solutions and used to remove dog urine odor. However, many individuals choose not to use them because they have an awful odor.
Keep in mind that once you eliminate the pee from one area, your pet will avoid using that spot the next day due to the alien scent of the solution and will seek out a new location to relieve itself.
As a result, if you want to mark a specific area as your pet’s restroom, don’t remove the odor from that area. Unless the situation becomes intolerable and unsanitary, try cleaning that location less frequently.
In this manner, part of the natural smell of your pet’s excrement would remain, assisting your dog in locating it for future usage.
Final thoughts
If you discover scents in your dog’s urine that weren’t there before, it could be the result of a buildup over time or potentially a medical problem. After you’ve ruled out any medical difficulties, you can start eradicating the stench using the simple step-by-step procedure outlined above.
Building a dog run or having a designated dog lawn in the future can help prevent odors from urine and dog dung. Take your dog for walks around the neighborhood or to a dog park, if nothing else.
Last update on 2024-09-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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