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8 Best Dog Foods to Prevent Lawn Burn – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

A Poodle dog eating from a food dish in the garden

You spend time and money to maintain a lush and healthy lawn. The last thing you want to see is ugly yellow or brown spots from dog pee. Since we love our pups, giving them up is not an option. You may wonder if having a beautiful lawn and a dog is possible too.

We have looked at the options and reviewed the dog foods available to reduce lawn burn, based on user reviews. Here are our picks for the best dog foods to prevent lawn burn as well as some other tips that may help.

Disclaimer: The foods reviewed here were chosen because they have certain characteristics that might help with some of the causes or consequences of this medical condition. However, they are not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical treatment. Keep in mind that each medical case is different and what works for some pets may not work for others. Your veterinarian is the right person to advise you on the best diet for your pet’s individual case.

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A Quick Look at Our Winners (2024 Update)

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Subscription The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Subscription
  • Human-grade
  • Main ingredient is meat
  • Contains fruits and vegetables
  • Budget Buy
    Second place
    Purina One Natural True Instinct Purina One Natural True Instinct
  • No artificial flavors or preservatives
  • Highly digestible
  • Contains real turkey
  • Third place
    Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe
  • High quality ingredients
  • Made with real chicken
  • Ingredients are quality tested
  • Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Healthy Growth Formula Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Healthy Growth Formula
  • First ingredient is chicken
  • Contains fruits and vegetables
  • Tasty to most pups
  • Merrick Grain-Free Real Duck Dinner Merrick Grain-Free Real Duck Dinner
  • High-quality ingredients
  • No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
  • High safety standards
  • The 8 Best Dog Foods to Prevent Lawn Burn

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

    Main ingredients: Chicken, Brussel sprouts, chicken liver, bok-choy cabbage, broccoli
    Protein content: 11.5%
    Fat content: 8.5%
    Calories: 590 kcal/lb

    The Farmer’s Dog is the overall best dog food for lawn burns. The Farmer’s Dog Food is formulated with ingredients that are human-grade and approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The main ingredients in the recipes are chicken, beef, and turkey. You can stick to your dog’s favorite or switch it up for variety. The formulas contain healthy ingredients like bok choy cabbage, brussels sprouts, carrots, sweet potatoes, lentils, spinach, and kale, to name a few.

    The recipes are customized for your dog based on the information you provided. The food is formulated to give your pup a tasty meal packed with the nutrition it needs.

    The Farmer’s Dog is a subscription service that is delivered to your home. The high-quality food and the convenience of home delivery come at a price. But, even at the higher price point it is an excellent choice for a quality dog food.

    Pros
    • Human-grade
    • Main ingredient is meat
    • Contains fruits and vegetables
    Cons
    • More expensive than regular kibble

    2. Purina One Natural True Instinct Dry Dog Food – Budget Buy

    Purina ONE Natural True Instinct With Real Turkey & Venison High Protein Dry Dog Food

    Main ingredients: Turkey, chicken meal, soy flour, beef fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, whole grain wheat
    Protein content: 30.0%
    Fat content: 17.0%
    Calories: 365 kcal/cup

    Purina One Natural True Instinct with Real Turkey and Venison High Protein Dog Food is the best dog food for lawn burn for the money. This formula is packed with minerals, vitamins, and nutrients for your dog. It is made with real turkey and venison to provide your pup with the protein it needs for a healthy heart and strong muscles.

    The nutritious blend has added calcium to support healthy teeth and gums and glucosamine for joint health. The omega-6 fatty acids support its healthy skin and coat. Add some water to the kibble to provide your pup with added hydration. The added hydration may help to reduce the nitrogen in your dog’s urine.

    The formula is highly digestible and does not contain artificial flavors or preservatives. Customers’ reviews are mixed on the taste. They also report inconsistency in flavor. Dogs would eat one bag and refuse to eat another.

    Pros
    • No artificial flavors or preservatives
    • Highly digestible
    • Contains real turkey
    Cons
    • Some dogs won’t eat it
    • Formula is inconsistent

    3. Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Canned Dog Food

    Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables & Brown Rice Canned Dog Food

    Main ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, carrots, peas
    Protein content: 8.5%
    Fat content: 5.5%
    Calories: 451 kcal/cup

    We chose Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables and Brown Rice Canned Dog Food for our third choice for dog food for lawn burn. The moist and tender chunks of chicken provide your pup with a high-quality diet. Your pup is sure to love this wet and tasty meal. The wet food is nutritionally balanced and complete. You can feed this alone or mixed with kibble for texture. Blue Buffalo uses quality ingredients like chicken, sweet potatoes, and peas. Some studies1 link peas to heart disease in dogs, however.

    The ingredients in Blue Buffalo recipes come from reputable suppliers in the U.S., Canada, and New Zealand. Anything sourced from outside the U.S. is tested for quality and safety. Among the reviews, customers complain of lack of consistency in the product. There are also mixed reviews on the taste. Fussy eaters won’t eat it. If you plan to change your dog’s diet, consult with your veterinarian.

    Pros
    • High quality ingredients
    • Made with real chicken
    • Ingredients are quality tested
    Cons
    • Inconsistency in product
    • Picky eaters won’t eat it

    4. Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Healthy Growth Formula Puppy Food

    Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Healthy Growth Formula Natural Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Puppy Dry Food

    Main ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley
    Protein content: 27%
    Fat content: 16%
    Calories: 398 kcal/cup

    In reviewing the best dog food for lawn burns we picked Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Healthy Growth Formula Natural Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Puppy Dry Food as a great choice for puppies. The puppy formula will provide your growing puppy with fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for a complete and healthy diet. To provide your pup with added hydration, mix some water into the kibble.

    The deboned chicken is mixed with veggies, fruit, and grains for a tasty and nutritious meal that most canines love. It may not be a desirable choice for picky eaters, however. Unless you own a mini breed, pet owners were not happy with the tiny pieces of kibble. Customer reviews complain about the lack of availability of smaller bags of food.

    Pros
    • First ingredient is chicken
    • Contains fruits and vegetables
    • Tasty to most pups
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Tiny kibble

    5. Merrick Real Duck Dinner Canned Food

    Merrick Grain-Free Real Duck Dinner Canned Dog Food

    Main ingredients: Deboned duck, duck liver, turkey broth, dried egg product, natural flavor
    Protein content: 8.0%
    Fat content: 7.0%
    Calories: 358 kcal/can

    After reviewing the best dog foods for lawn burn, our next pick is Merrick Grain-Free real Duck Dinner Canned Dog food. The high-quality ingredients contained in this recipe start with deboned duck. The food is moist and tasty, which is sure to entice your pet’s palate. The ingredients do not include any peas, grains, corn, potatoes, soy, or wheat. Animal sources make up 96% of the protein in the formula.

    The Merrick Duck Dinner is rich in vitamins and minerals and does not contain artificial ingredients, preservatives, colors, or flavors. The ingredients for the food are sourced from the U.S., France, and in some instances, China. The company tests products before and during production to ensure the quality and safety of all the ingredients in the food. They maintain rigorous quality standards. Some reviewers report that their dog does not like the taste. You may want to try it before making a large purchase since it is a bit costly.

    Pros
    • High-quality ingredients
    • No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
    • High safety standards
    Cons
    • It’s pricey
    • Some ingredients from China

    6. Nutro Hearty Stew Canned Dog Food

    Nutro Hearty Stew Turkey, Sweet Potato & Green Bean Cuts in Gravy Canned Dog Food

    Main ingredients: Turkey, pork broth, chicken broth, chicken liver, sweet potatoes
    Protein content: 10.0%
    Fat content: 3.5%
    Calories: 361 kcal/can

    In our reviews, Nutro Hearty Stew Turkey, Sweet Potato, and Green Bean Cuts in Gravy Canned Dog Food was one of our top picks for dog food for lawn burn. The wet food has turkey as the first ingredient. It contains no wheat, corn, soy, or chicken by-product meal. It will provide your pet with a nutritious meal without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

    The stew turkey recipe is made in the U.S. from high quality ingredients. Nutro uses ingredients only from trusted suppliers and farmers. The formula provides your dog with the vitamins, nutrients, and minerals for a balanced and nutritious meal. Other than picky eaters, customers report their dogs like the taste and gobble it up. It also may give some dogs gas.

    Pros
    • No artificial colors or flavors
    • No preservatives
    • Made in the U.S.
    • High-quality ingredients
    Cons
    • Can give dogs gas
    • Not for picky eaters

    7. Canidae Pure All Stages Limited Ingredient Canned Food

    Canidae Pure All Stages Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Lamb, Turkey & Chicken Recipe Canned Dog Food

    Main ingredients: Lamb, lamb broth, turkey broth, turkey, chicken
    Protein content: 9.0%
    Fat content: 8.0%
    Calories: 490 kcal/can

    For pups that may need limited ingredients, Canidae Pure All Stages Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Lamb, Turkey, and Chicken Recipe Canned Dog Food is our pick for a limited-ingredient dog food for lawn burns. It has lamb as the main ingredient. It also includes high-quality proteins, like chicken and turkey, and it is limited to seven key ingredients for dogs with sensitive stomachs. The recipe does not contain wheat, soy, grain, or corn.

    The complete and balanced nutrition is formulated for dogs in all stages of life. Peas are a controversial ingredient1 and are included in the recipe. You should seek the advice of your vet before feeding your dog peas.

    Since the food tends to have a sticky consistency, some reviews find it bothersome. They report having to use two spoons to scoop it out of the can. They also find it takes longer to clean the dog bowl. Fortunately, the dogs don’t seem to mind—they like the taste.

    Pros
    • Dogs like the taste
    • Good for all stages of life
    • Limited ingredients for sensitive stomachs
    Cons
    • Sticky consistency
    • Controversial ingredients

    8. The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Dehydrated Dog Food

    The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Turkey Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food

    Main ingredients: Dehydrated turkey, organic oats, dehydrated potatoes, organic flaxseed, dehydrated carrots
    Protein content: 22%
    Fat content: 15%
    Calories: 470 kcal/cup

    In our review for dog foods for lawn burns, we chose The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Turkey Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food for one of our top picks. The recipes are made with real wholesome food like organic oats, apples, and cabbage. It contains no by-products, fillers, or preservatives. The human-grade food is sure to please your pup’s palate. Not only is it tasty, but it also provides your dog with balanced nutrition that is formulated under strict quality control.

    The food comes in grain-free and grain-inclusive formulas. Since the food is dehydrated, you can add enough water to make it thick or soupy. If your pup is not a big drinker, add lots of water to the food. The Honest Kitchen is one of the higher-priced foods for dogs. Some reviewers are turned off by the consistency of the food, and their dogs won’t eat it.

    Pros
    • Human-grade ingredients
    • Grain-free and grain-inclusive available
    • No preservatives
    • Organic ingredients
    Cons
    • High priced
    • Not for picky eaters

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    Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Dog Food to Prevent Lawn Burn

    Why Does Dog Urine Turn the Grass Yellow or Brown?

    You look out the window, and you see unsightly yellow circles of grass surrounded by dark green grass. Your dog’s urine might be the culprit. Urine contains nitrogen. While nitrogen is good for lawns, too much can burn your lawn.

    The dog’s diet, breed, and sex can affect the concentration of nitrogen in its urine. A female dog may do more damage than a male dog. Larger dogs will cause bigger spots than toy dogs. Your pets’ diet and water consumption will also affect the amount of nitrogen in the pee.

    Preventing Lawn Burns

    You can prevent urine patches in three ways. They include treating the grass, training the dog to pee in a certain area, or changing the dog’s diet.

    Changing the diet may sacrifice your dog’s nutrition and may not be the best option. Adding water to your canine’s kibble may help to reduce the nitrogen, however. Extreme changes to your dog’s diet can cause bladder stones or put strain on its kidneys. If you choose to explore this option, seek the advice of your vet.

    If you don’t want to sacrifice your dog’s nutrition, you may want to train your dog to urinate in a specific area of the yard. You can create an area of stone or dirt that is specifically for your dog to do his business. If you do not have a fenced-in yard, other animals can still pee on your lawn, however. The other option is to water the grass immediately after the dog urinates. You can also try to reduce the amount of fertilizer you put on your lawn.

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    Final Thoughts

    Our reviews found The Farmer’s Dog to be the Best Overall choice for a high-quality diet to help prevent lawn burns. For pet owners on a tight budget, add some water to Purina One Natural True Instinct with Real Turkey & Venison High Protein Dry Dog Food. It will ensure your pet gets the water he needs.


    Featured Image Credit: Lucas Seijo, Shutterstock

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