You can log into the account you created (if you did) for Ask Extension to see older questions you submitted. The last question we have from you is dated March 2023 and was about a pussywillow shrub, so perhaps the more recent submission failed for some reason. (Did you get an auto-reply from Ask Extension telling you the submission was received and what the question number assigned to it was? If not, that can indicate the question wasn't received on our end for some reason. Occasionally, we have someone mistype an email address, which is not something we can edit to fix, though lately that doesn't seem to have happened.)

Pet urine is not likely a contributing factor here. On Dwarf Alberta Spruces, needle browning and premature shedding is often due to spruce spider mite; they feed in the cooler weather of spring and autumn but their damage manifests as we heat-up in summer. Spruces are also not very well-suited to our growing conditions here in the mid-Atlantic, so despite their continued popularity in landscaping, they struggle with our summer weather and heavy soils. At least two needle cast fungal infections can cause damage to spruces, though we typically see them on Colorado Blue Spruce instead. Drought stress, given last year's drought in much of our region, might also be exacerbating that plant's symptoms if it wasn't periodically checked for watering needs.

For mites, blasting the foliage with a strong spray of water from a garden hose can dislodge a number of them -- more so in spring or autumn when they resume being active since they aren't feeding in summer -- and either insecticidal soap or horticultural oil may be used if a pesticide is warranted. Be aware, though, that once the needles are damaged, a pesticide spray, even if otherwise plant-safe, can still damage them further and appear to worsen symptoms initially, even if it's working well to suppress the pest.

Foliage cannot heal once damaged, and spruces will not replace dead needles on older growth, so any that are brown will fall off and any bare branches that may result (which appears to be the case here) can be trimmed off if there's no live foliage on their tips. Similarly, if you choose to spray, heed any precautions on the insecticide product label and do not spray plants during temperatures above 85 degrees (not likely a problem since the seasons to target the mites have cooler weather overall). Oil sprays sometimes remove leaf waxes on bluer evergreens, so while not overtly harmful, they may turn a blue-green or muted-green plant into a more olive-green or glossier color as some of the foliage's wax coating is removed by the oil. New foliage emerging later will have its normal color but older treated growth won't regain its former color.

If you prefer to replace the plants instead since they won't regrow evenly if already partially bare, we recommend using a different species of shrub or evergreen in its place. While every species can potentially contract something when conditions are right or when it's stressed (nothing is problem-free), at least it won't be spruce spider mite or the needle cast infections that might be an issue with this plant.

Miri

You're welcome!