There are times when the use of a  diaper or panty for dogs can be really convenient to maintain hygiene in our home. And it is that nobody likes to find pee in any corner of the house, or even on the sofa, nor stains from the menstrual blood of their dog in heat.

The reasons for using a diaper are varied, and in this buying guide we will review all of them, and we will see the different types of diapers for dogs that we have available, to know which is the most appropriate for each case.

Reasons to use a dog diaper

One of the main reasons to use diapers for dogs is urinary incontinence, which can occur for various reasons, causing urine leakage that can be more or less large. Another of the most common uses is to prevent a female dog that is in heat from staining the house with menstrual blood. However, there are other occasions when they can be of use to us. Let’s see them all in detail.

Urinary incontinence in dogs

Let’s start by saying that urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine, and can occur due to a health problem, or when the dog is already old. Usually, it is an involuntary urine drip, which occurs while the dog is asleep or resting, and it is only when he gets up that you realize when you see a spot of moisture, which can be more or less large, depending on the amount of urine you have leaked.

It can also happen that when he is playing, jumping, or running, some pee escapes, but it is always something involuntary, of which your dog is probably not aware. Another sign that your dog could suffer from incontinence is if the hair on the lower belly area is wet, in the case of males, or that of the hind legs, in the case of females.

“If you notice that your dog has started to leak his pee involuntarily, the first thing you should do is take him to the vet to rule out that it could be a urinary tract infection or any other health problem.”

If you notice that this begins to happen to your dog,  the first thing you should do is take him to the vet to find out the causes, since it may be a urinary tract infection, or even problems in the urethra or, in the case of a dog male, prostate. If it is female, there could also be a problem in the uterus or vagina. In any case, it is important to know, in order to give you the proper treatment.

Neutered and obese dogs are more prone to incontinence problems, especially when they get old. There is also more propensity in large breed dogs.

Whatever the reason that causes the problem, and regardless of whether it is temporary or chronic,  diapers for older, elderly or incontinence dogs can be of great help to prevent urine from reaching your floor, your furniture, or your dog’s bed.

When bitches gon ‘go into heat

Just before going into heat, during the proestrus stage, which can last between 6 and 11 days approximately, bitches have a kind of menstruation.

Although some dogs bleed quite a bit, the bleeding is not usually very heavy, and it is just droplets, but it is enough to stain all their surroundings. In these cases,  diapers for dogs in heat will come in handy, since your furry will be free to move around the house as usual, with the peace of mind that it will not stain anything.

Behavior problems

There are dogs that leak urine when they are very excited or nervous; for example, when you come home after long hours, or when visitors come. This is called arousal urination: the dog jumps, wags its tail, barks to get our attention … and pees with emotion. It is a problem that occurs, mostly, with puppies, who still do not control their bladder well, but sometimes it lasts.

“In the event that your dog urinates at home due to excitement, marking or separation anxiety, the use of diapers should only be temporary, since the urine would simply be the manifestation of a problem, which should be solved.”

Another problem you may encounter is marking, especially if you have an uncastrated male dog. It should be pointed out that marking is an instinctive and totally natural behavior, and that normally dogs do it in the street, however, there are times when they can also do it at home, which can become a problem.

Finally, another reason why the dog may urinate at home is if it suffers from separation anxiety, a relatively frequent problem that can be quite serious in some cases, since dogs really go through it wrong, and they manifest it in different ways: in addition to peeing or pooping, they can also destroy carpets, furniture, clothes, etc., or bark non-stop, something that can bring you countless problems with your neighbors.

In all these cases, the use of diapers for dogs should be only temporary, since after all, urine is only the manifestation of a problem that your dog has. In the case of marking, a solution that is usually infallible is to neuter or sterilize the dog.

But the best thing is that, once you rule out any possible health problem with a visit to the vet, you hire the services of an ethologist or a canine educator, who will guide you, giving you the guidelines to follow to put an end to your dog’s problem.

Dogs that are paraplegic

When a dog is paralyzed from the waist down, he often has trouble peeing on his own. Many of them do not contain urine, so a  dog diaper can be very useful.

“Many dogs that are paralyzed from the waist down are not able to pee on their own, and they need help. In some cases, they do not retain urine, so they will need to wear a diaper. “

In any case, and even if they wear a diaper, these dogs usually need help to completely empty their bladder several times a day, to avoid urine infections.

Puppies that have not yet learned to relieve themselves at home

Some people put diapers or panties on their puppy, when he has not yet controlled his toilet, to prevent him from doing his things at home. In my opinion, this is a mistake, as it can be counterproductive if you are trying to teach your puppy to pee and poop in the street, and not at home. In these cases, it is more convenient to use a pad.

However, a diaper could come in handy if you go to visit a friend or relative’s house and take your puppy with you, or if you are traveling with him by car, for example. They are specific cases in which puppy diapers can be very useful, to ensure that they will not stain anything.

What to Consider When Choosing Diapers or Panties for Your Dog

When buying diapers for dogs you must take into account a series of factors, in order to choose the most appropriate to the needs of your furry, without forgetting your own preferences. Let’s see them.

Disposable or Reusable Dog Diapers?

The first thing you should decide when buying diapers for your dog is whether you prefer them to be disposable or, on the contrary, you want them reusable.

It is true that disposable diapers for dogs are very comfortable, since once they are used, you just have to throw them away, but this means that they are not the most ecological option, nor the cheapest, especially if you are going to use them regularly.

“Disposable diapers are very comfortable, since once used they are thrown away, however they are not the most ecological option, nor the cheapest.”

The cloth diapers for dogs, meanwhile, are much more friendly to the environment and, if you will use for a long period of time, you will much cheaper than disposables, because you can use them over and over again. The downside, of course, is that you will have to wash them every day.

Consider The Sex of Your Dog

This point is essential too. Dogs and female dogs have, as we all know, different anatomy, and that is why there are diapers that are more suitable for males and others for females.

If you have a male dog, sash-type diapers will be great for you, which carry the absorbent in the area that is in the lower belly of the animal; If, on the other hand, you have a dog, panty-type diapers are more suitable, which are absorbent in the rear area, which is where they pee, and also where they bleed when they go into heat.

Choose the Correct Size

Obviously, you must make sure that the diapers you buy for your dog are going to fit well, but not tight. Although throughout the article I have put some examples of dog breeds for each size, this is only indicative: always check the manufacturer’s instructions before purchasing diapers, and carefully measure your dog, since even within the same breed there can be many differences between one dog and another.

“The diaper you buy for your dog should fit snugly, but not too tight. Make sure you measure your dog’s waist well and, in the case of panty diapers, the length from the base of the tail to the waist. “

In the case of diapers, the most important measurement is the waist contour, which you must measure around the body at the narrowest part of the waist, more or less about 5 cm from its back legs. Another measurement that can be useful (especially in panty diapers), is the length from the base of the dog’s tail to its waist.

Some Tips for a Good Use of Dog Diapers

Once you have decided which type of diaper is the most appropriate, it’s time to start using them. Put it on your dog so that it is snug so that it moves as little as possible, but without it being too tight, so that it is comfortable with it.

Change the diaper often, since once it is dirty, if it remains in contact with the dog’s skin for a long time, it can lead to rashes and even infections.

Every time you change your furry’s diaper, wash it well. You can use disposable wipes, but choose ones made especially for dogs, not the typical ones for babies, since the pH of dogs is different from that of people, and it could irritate their skin.

Normally,  diapers type panties for dogs usually come with a hole made so that you can put your dog’s tail, but if your furry does not have a tail, or it is too short, the pee could easily escape there, so in these cases the best thing is that you cover it.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Diapers

Why use dog diapers?

Like humans, dogs go through a variety of stages and circumstances throughout their lives, and at times dog diapers or panties can be a great help.

For example: in case of urinary incontinence problems, whether due to age or a health problem; in the case of dogs with paraplegia; or to prevent our furniture from staining if we have a dog that is in heat.

Can I use the same type of diaper for male and female dogs?

It is not recommended, since the anatomy of dogs and female dogs is different; therefore, the diaper to be used must carry the absorbent in different places. For male dogs, the ideal is to get a sash-type diaper, which is placed around their abdomen, and they have the absorbent in the area that is in the lower abdomen.

For female dogs, on the other hand, you should use panty-type diapers (similar to those we use for babies), which have the absorbent in the back area, thus collecting urine losses and blood from heat.

Are disposable diapers better, or reusable ones?

In the market we can find disposable and reusable diapers for dogs, and, like everything in life, each modality has its advantages and disadvantages. The biggest advantage of disposable diapers is their comfort, since once they are dirty, you will only have to throw them away. Their disadvantage is that they are not very environmentally friendly, as well as being considerably more expensive than reusable ones in the long term.

On the other hand, cloth diapers do not harm the environment at all, but they have the disadvantage that you will have to wash them after each use. On the other hand, they are cheaper in the long term than disposable ones.

Can it be useful to wear a panties or diaper when a bitch is in heat?

More than during the heat itself, a pair of panties or a diaper can be very useful during the stage just before the heat, which is known as proestrus. This stage lasts between 6 and 11 days, and during this period the bitches bleed.

While this bleeding is not usually too heavy, it is enough that it can stain your carpets, your sofa, or your own bed, so wearing a diaper while at home can be a good idea.

Can I use a diaper to teach a puppy to relieve himself outside the home?

No, putting your puppy in a diaper when he is at home will not help him at all to learn that he should not relieve himself at home, although at least you can prevent your floor and furniture from staining.

In any case, the best method for your dog to learn to do his things where he should, is to take him outside very often (of course, without a diaper), and reward him every time he pees or poops outside, and that When he escapes at home, do not scold him: in these cases it is best to ignore him. If you reward him for doing it outside and ignore him when he does it at home, your puppy will quickly understand what to do.

How often should I change my dog’s diaper?

It is important that you change your dog’s diaper often: if possible, as soon as you notice that it is wet, since otherwise, your dog will feel very uncomfortable, in addition to the fact that a wet diaper too long in contact with its skin can give you an uncomfortable rash. Every time you change his diaper, clean his skin well with wipes, and if you notice a rash, your vet will be able to provide you with a suitable ointment or lotion.

And so far our review of the different types of diapers for dogs that you can find in the market. I hope I have helped you, solving any questions you may have in this regard.