I heard recently that putting a bit of ketchup on a dog's food stops the dog's urine discolouring your lawn. What positive benefit is the ketchup supposed to have?

lanfranco

Ketchup and catsup are two words for the same condiment. See the site below. I've heard this rumor, too, gmack, and there are some chat sites where people swear it's true. Supposedly, the ketchup alters or perhaps neutralizes the acidic quality of the dog's urine, so that it won't harm your grass. http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ket2.htm Sep 17 05, 2:12 PM

robboy

Not sure I'd call the acid content in dog urine a 'quality', frankie, but I believe the advice is well founded, although I've never understood why it's the females who do the most damage. By the way, there are actually 3 acceptable variations on the word ketchup. "ketchup - A thick, sweet sauce made with tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, salt, and spices. It is also know as catsup and catchup. It is said to be derived from "fet-tsiap," a spicy pickled fish condiment popular in China. History: Ketchup was first mentioned in print in 1711. Most American ketchups are made with tomatoes. The F. & J. Heinz Company of Pennsylvania sold the first bottled tomato ketchups as of 1876." http://whatscookingamerica.net/Glossary/K.htm Sep 17 05, 7:57 PM