What Are Dog Diapers?
Dog diapers are pretty much exactly the same as the human diapers you may have come across for babies and the elderly.
They are absorbent padding designed to catch your dog’s urine and feces. So, naturally, they will have a different fit than a human diaper and very likely a hole for your dog’s tale.
However, unlike baby diapers, it is recommended that you should only use diapers for incontinence and never for house training.
A doggy diaper will make it more difficult to monitor their bathroom habits, and the freedom of being able to go in the diaper will also slow down their learning of where they can and can’t go.
How To Use Dog Diapers
Find The Tight Fit
If the diaper you choose for your dog doesn’t fit properly, not only will it not be particularly comfortable for your pooch, but it is also more likely to let mess escape from the sides, which kind of defeats the purpose of the diaper.
Every brand will have its own different sizing, so follow size guides to find the perfect fit for your pup.
If your dog doesn’t have a tail, cover the tail hole with tape so that it doesn’t become a leakage point.
Change The Diaper Frequently
Your dog will feel uncomfortable if they are stuck walking around in a soiled diaper for long periods of time.
The rubbing of a wet and dirty diaper can also cause doggy diaper rash, which may see you dealing with a skin infection as well as an incontinent dog.
Change your dog’s diaper’s regularly, and always change them at the first tell-tale sign that it has been used.
Clean Your Dog When Changing Them
When you change a baby, you are always careful to wipe them down and leave them clean before applying a new diaper.
You need to do the same with your pup, or they have the same risk of developing a diaper rash or an infection.
You can use the same baby wipes you use on children to give your dog a quick wipe down before applying a fresh diaper.
Don’t Make Your Dog Wear Their Diaper At Night
Diapers aren’t comfortable, and being stuck in a solid diaper for hours on end isn’t very hygienic. So, as much as possible, you don’t want your dog to have to use their diaper when they don’t need it.
The most obvious time is overnight, when they might be stuck in their diaper for eight hours without a break.
You should make alternative arrangements for your dog at night. One good choice is an elevated mesh bed, which allows urine to drain away and air to circulate.
This is less effective with poop, so you should also get something that is easy to wipe down if you need to clean the bed in the morning.
Protect Yourself
They say you get used to touching urine and feces when you have a baby, and that it is a natural part of life. But you don’t want to become accustomed to touching your dog’s urine and feces.
Dog urine contains dangerously high levels of ammonia when breathed in, and dog poop contains bacteria known to cause cramps, diarrhea, intestinal illness, dehydration, and kidney disorder in humans.
Wear gloves when you are changing your dog’s diaper.
Consider Suspenders
While some dogs will leave their diapers on, others will scoot out of there in less time than it took you to put the diaper on in the first place.
Many pet parents will use suspenders to keep their dog’s diaper in place or cover the diaper with a dog onesie, which is much more difficult for them to take off.
Why Is Your Dog Pooping Inside?
There are lots of reasons why your dog might start doing their business in the house again.
Urinating inside, in particular, can be caused by a number of things, and some of these are treatable and others not.
Pooping inside after being properly toilet trained, however, is a lot less common.
If your dog has a problem that is causing them diarrhea, this might be a temporary problem. Yes, the clean-up will be horrible, but you can expect it to pass.
However, if your dog starts pooping in the house normally after being properly toilet trained, it is very likely a result of old age.
If they suffer from dog dementia, they may simply have forgotten their toilet training. There is not much you can do about this, as the same condition will mean they won’t have the ability to relearn.
This means they may need to pass their twilight years with the assistance of a doggy diaper.
Simple Solutions Dog Diapers
There can be a variety of reasons you may need to use a dog diaper, from your dog undergoing surgery, to old age causing incontinence and so much more. Dog diapers come in handy when our dogs can’t go potty outside like they usually would.
Fortunately, there are lots of options for dog diapers on the market to meet your needs. We’ll go over some of these options, as well as how to best use the doggy diaper of your choice. Dog diapers can help you minimize mess, maximize peace of mind and keep your canine more comfortable, too.