Could this be dog pee damage?

9 years ago

I have a Acer Shaina that had leafed out and was doing fine. Today I noticed that most of the bottom portion (heavier on one side) is dead. I do have a lab that I have caught peeing on my maples before. My husband insists that it's not the lab bc he "never let's him off the leash in the yard" but I know this isn't true. The lab usually heads towards this area before he goes into the woods for his walks. I'm thinking it is lab pee bc it's on the side that he lifts his leg.

I'm also worried it might be water damage. My yard is pretty good draining but we've had a lot of rain lately (including last night). This is the only part of my yard that gets "wet" and that's very rarely in the spring. The tree is planted on a small berm and there are at least a dozen close by that look fine. But still I worry that it's wet damage. Would just a section die like that from water damage?

If it is pee damage and if I stop the dog from doing it again will the tree have a chance at recovery?

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Comments (5)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
9 years ago
"If it is pee damage and if I stop the dog from doing it again will the tree have a chance at recovery? "

Yes.

How long has the tree been there? And if it still needs a stake, that is not the way to stake it.

tj
greenhavenrdgarden
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the response. Planted last fall (as were the dozen or so trees near it). It lived through a very cold winter here in CT. The stake was put on by the grower. I'm going to remove it now. Could that be causing problems?
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jean001a
9 years ago
Can't tell how high on the tree that damage is. Perhaps you have a really tall dog?
greenhavenrdgarden
Original Author
9 years ago
Actually, its a dwarf/broom and its young. Maybe 2ft high. My dog is a lab and the damage is exactly in the zone his leg/pee would reach. As of today it doesn't look any worse. I did place something in front of it that will help block pee and my husband has been warned. The dog might be his baby but the trees are mine ;-)
It has been raining all weekend here and the damage hasnt spread so I hope that it isnt water damage and that it will recover.
sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
9 years ago
Looks like pee to me. Last season my pup would hit two of mine near everyday on his way out...not the full-on morning hose, but his marking hits.
My pencil holly is another favorite target but i arranged a few large rock on its exposed side and my pup cannot get close enough to get the footing to mark it.
This year i've trimmed the lower drooping leaves of my front door maples out of reach.
Never affected the trees but mine are much older. Just the leaves suffer. Unsightly.
Cut those leaves off and if the pup is caught in the act, give the maple a flush of water from a hose. I do the same when they use the front lawn.
Most mornings i run out briskly with them and trot to the side yard where we have a large mulch area that is a designated potty area. They will follow me before peeing in all the wrong places.
One trick i use on the shady side of my house where i have hostas, to avoid deer damage, is a few 2x2 wooden stakes, (3 works in that spot), 2 feet above ground.
I ran some clear thick fishing line across and around a couple times like a pea trellis formation. Invisible and seems to spook them. Also works well for us as hose guides.
May go to three feet tall soon since it has worked so far...

My old fella peed on a new nine-bark shrub straight from the nursery last weekend still in the pot...that edge of leaves soon looked just like yours.

Young pup #2 is a girl, ; )