Happy Pup Happy Home: How To Help Pups And Aging Dogs With Doggie Diapers

Submitted By:Richard Holt

Last year my best furry friend Baby, who is getting up in years, started having accidents around the house. We had her checked and there were no good solutions offered. The pill frequently prescribed for this type of problem was of little use and the accidents became more frequent.

I have to admit it was driving us half crazy dealing with soiled carpet and furniture. I even found myself wondering the unthinkable thought of giving her up and new a fast solution was needed.

Baby and I have always been close and were rarely more then a few yards apart. I could tell she was stressing over this problem too. It finally occurred to us the answer was under our very noses, hidden in the warehouse, but needed some tweaking to handle out type of problem.

Diaper garments have been around forever, but most are designed to handle seasonal issues and light marking style accidents and do little alone to hold back the flow of urine. So my wife, Linda, played around with the idea to put our lives back to normal.

By discovering that the better cloth diapers coupled with a common item in every department and drug store, ladies panty liner for bladder problems, can stop most, if not all the accidents. Easy to care for and simple to use, these comfortable diapers were quickly adapted and now Baby will stand by the door after a walk to have her diaper put back on.

There are a lot of choices on the market and we offer many of these in the training section of our store. They each have valuable purposes and all come with a hole for the tail that does allow them to defecate.

The most common and least expensive versions are the nylons which are great for most seasonal needs and sometimes require the addition of a liner for heavier flows. Most come with an elastic-style attachment strap with metal clasp, and tend to wear out rather quickly with washing and frequent use.

The second and better versions are cloth types that are designed with a soft absorbent liner and a special membrane to slow seepage to the surface (all the cloth versions we carry have these features). These are best for dogs with heavy flows, especially larger breeds and are ideal for urination problems. By adding the ladies panty liners, they become nearly impenetrable walls between your dog and the house.

Not all cloth diapers are created equal. You want to choose those with cupped designs and elastic borders to assure a better and comfortable fit and to contain the fluid while it absorbs. They are available to fit dogs from one pound to 95 pounds. The waist size measured all the way around determines fit and dog sizing charts are available to compare your dog’s needs.

For males, a belly band is another answer to this same and will provide much better coverage than the male diapers on the market. They are measured the same way as the diapers - around the tummy for the girth.

Puppies can also benefit from the diaper garments while being house trained to cut down on the number of accidents. They need to be walked after waking, eating, while playing and before going to bed. Unfortunately, in our busy world we do not always have time to get them outside. Diapers are excellent helpers.

If you are going to use them every day, as we do, you may want to have at least three on hand in dealing with incontinence problems so there’s a fresh one is always available.

Finally, on the subject of the ladies pads, try to select one close to the length of the pocket area. Baby's smaller diaper requires one that is a little longer than the diaper. We sometimes fold it or let it just hang out a little.

The most important thing to remember here is that dog diapers can extend the enjoyable years with your pet without the helpless frustration that can accompany incontinence.