Best Diapers for Your New Puppy or Dog

If you've ever had a dog reaching the end of his or her life, or if your dog experiences some sort of illness, you know the frustration. You love your dog dearly and want to appreciate every moment with it, but incontinence has set in, and you feel that you are spending more time getting upset about the new stains on your carpet than on loving your dog. Fortunately, for nearly every problem a person can come up with, someone has thought of a solution. In the case of incontinent dogs, the solution may be doggie diapers.

Dog diapers come in a variety of shapes and colors. There are those that are marketed towards older or sickly dogs. There are those that are marketed to young females in heat. And there are those, too, that are geared towards young dogs and puppies. With so many options out on the market, how do you determine what is the right match for you and your dog?

Part of that depends on what precisely you are looking for. Frankly, no dog diapers are invisible, so it'll be readily apparent that your dog is wearing diapers. For some people, going as small as possible would be preferable. For others, making the diapers fancy and "cute" makes more sense. After you've picked whether you want small or pretty, or if you just don't care, you have to decide if you would prefer disposable or washable. Most of the time, with the exception of the very, very infirm, you are using the diapers for urine, not fecal matter, but, even so, there are not a lot of people who are excited about washing out pet diapers. However, the disposable pet diapers have the same environmental concerns as disposable human diapers, plus they cost more in the long run. An alternative has been created in the form of disposable inserts, and this may be the best option for many people.

Having worked in pet stores for many years, I have seen both what works and what doesn't in the form of dog diapers. There is no one brand that is perfect for any dog. Some brands may irritate certain dogs and they will be more likely to chew it off, rendering the diaper useless. All brands come in a variety of sizes, but some may fit your dog better than another.

One brand that is readily available is Pooch Pants. These are available at almost any pet store, both local and chain. These are 100% washable and do not require an insert. Although it touts itself as being able to absorb one full void, these do not necessarily capture everything for larger dogs. However, these are ideal for puppies and older dogs that are not yet fully incontinent. You can use these all day for partial incontinence, as it seems that the issues with absorbance for a full urination from a large dog has more to do with overwhelming the diaper all at once than with the actual absorbency level of the diaper. These run from $20-40, depending on size and where you purchase them.

Another brand available in retail shops are Simple Solutions disposable diapers. As disposable diapers, you don't have to deal with the mess of washable diapers. Also, these are more fully adjustable than any washable brand that I have seen. The tabs hold the diaper in place easily. It seems that sensitive dogs are more likely to be sensitive to this brand than to some others, though, possibly because of those tabs. Upfront, the cost is less than with washable diapers, at $10-$35.

Simple Solutions also offer the hybrid type that I mentioned. The actual diapers are permanent and washable, but they feature disposable inserts. Like the Pooch Pants, these are pretty basic in design, simply denim. Absorbency of these diapers are not as good as with other types, as the insert does not provide the same type of protection, but they are wonderful for females in heat, semi-incontinent dogs or dogs who urinate from excitement.

Out in the world of more exciting diapers, it is a bit harder to find them locally. Poochie Pants have a full range, with the website touting them as "from casual to fancy" (poochiepants.com). These are quite a bit more elaborate than diapers available in retail shops, and are nearly full outfits. The fancy version of the female diaper, for instance, looks quite a bit like a dress. Although I have not used these personally (my dog would not stand for such a thing!), I have heard that they are wonderfully absorbent, if you like the appearance. They are, however, quite a bit more expensive than locally available options, ranging from $27-$56.

A quick search on your favorite search engine comes up with a number of other brands, all pretty similar those listed above. Some small retail factions offer different brands (a pet store I worked in used to carry Bitches' Britches, fancy diapers/pads designed for female dogs in heat).