Can Dog Diapers Help With Incontinence?

Dogs can suffer incontinence for a number of reasons ranging from illness to age. Sometimes a dog comes from another owner who never properly housetrained him or her, and they can even be good for female dogs in heat. Luckily, dog diapers are available for all of these circumstances in a variety of forms and sizes, and you can even make your own. Different options mean that you should be able to find something that suits your own needs and environment.

The main three types of dog diapers are washable, disposable, and biodegradable. Washable diapers can be made from several materials. The important thing is that the outer side will not leak, so it requires some sort of protective coating. Washable diapers tend to come in colorful or plain designs, allowing you to make it more of an accessory than a necessity.

Disposable diapers are perhaps the easiest to deal with after use, but they cause a build-up of waste for yourself and the world. They are also generally less stylish and much more expensive in the long run, since you constantly have to replace your stock.

You also need to get new biodegradable diapers, although you avoid the problem of knowing how to dispose of them that you face with the more traditional ones.

Most dogs will reach their senior years around five years of age, although individual and group factors obviously play a role. Along with less bladder or bowel control, your dog could start to experience symptoms of arthritis, vision loss, and low energy. Travel will become more difficult, especially if you have a large dog and are travelling for a long time by airplane to a destination with a significant difference in temperature from your home.

None of these issues need to mean the end of your relationship with your pet, however. Simple solutions exist to help make your life easier and to keep your dog as healthy and happy as possible during its later years. Diapers are one way that you can maintain your peace of mind while letting your dog roam where it wants. You won’t have to worry about allowing him or her onto the furniture, if you are so inclined, or sharing a bed.

Many people keep some sort of pail for used washable and regular disposable diapers. Biodegradable ones can be buried in the backyard, but it is advisable to do so in a manner that will not encourage the dog to dig it back up again.

The same principle applies to the pail, if you go that route. Sometimes dogs like to stick their head in these, for some unfathomable reason. So it can be a good idea to make sure it is well sealed and preferably kept in a location where your pet can’t get at it. Or your young kids, for that matter.

The best policy whenever possible, of course, is to house train your dog, if they are going to be inside. Diapers can be useful for this phase, as well, but if you can avoid them, your life will be that much easier. That being said, when they start to seem like a necessity, my advice would be to check out some of the many online resources about making your own. It really isn’t very difficult and requires no knowledge of sewing.

At the end of the day, you are going to have to deal with a mess either way, so the main factors to consider are your finances, your aesthetic sense, and your concern for creating garbage. Once you can sort those out, you’ll be on your way to choosing the best diaper for your dog.

My dog, Puccini, died from canine cancer. Yes, people and our pets share many of the same cancers. Puccini Foundation was born to help find treatments and cures for these cancers for animal and human cancers. I channeled my pain and sadness in dealing with canine cancer into something positive – this foundation – and honored the strongest of human-animal bonds. It’s my way of giving thanks for all of the time and happiness we shared. The Puccini Foundation is dedicated to the hope and promise of a future for pets and people, cancer free. For more information, to get involved, or to make a donation please visit our website at http://www.PucciniFoundation.org.