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The When, How and Why of Doggy Diapers

2 minutes
Doggy diapers can be very useful for young puppies, females in heat, dogs that are paralyzed from the waist down and older dogs that have urinary incontinence.
The When, How and Why of Doggy Diapers
Last update: 09 January, 2019

For one reason or another, there may be times in your pet’s life where they need to wear doggy diapers. When that time comes, don’t lose your cool. It’s something natural and this might sometimes be the only solution. You should always do what you can to make your pet comfortable.

How does your dog end up having to use doggy diapers

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These kinds of products may become necessary for several reasons. The most common are:

  • Urinary incontinence can affect your animal for a variety of reasons, such as urinary tract infections, diabetes or bladder problems. These reasons will require your pet to wear use doggy diapers, at least at home. Sometimes, veterinarians can fix the problem with surgery or medications, but this is not always the case, especially when it is a question of age.
  • Females in heat produce secretions that can ruin your floor and furniture. During this time, doggy diapers can be very useful.
  • When a puppy is learning to go to the bathroom outside, a good option to protect your furniture is to use doggy diapers. In any case, don’t neglect training them because this is only a short-term solution.
  • If your dog is paralyzed from the waist down, they will not be able to control their sphincter and they will need to use doggy diapers for the rest of their life.

Doggy diapers: How to use them

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Just like with baby diapers, you can find disposable or fabric doggy diapers. The latter is less harmful to the environment, although they also need to be washed constantly, which wastes fresh water.

When using them, it is useful to know the following:

  • You must change your animal’s diapers frequently. If the dirty diaper stays in contact with the skin for a long time, it is likely that your dog will end up getting rashes or even infections.
  • The level of absorption is different for each diaper. Choose the size and type of diaper you want for your dog carefully to make your dog feel comfortable and prevent leakage.
  • Use disposable wipes to clean your pet.
  • It’s recommended that you have gloves handy when changing the diapers to avoid coming into contact with your dog’s urine or feces.
  • Doggy diapers usually have a hole for their tail, but if your animal does not have a tail or it is too short, cover this hole to prevent possible leakage.
  • Before resorting to doggy diapers, take your animal to the veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis.

All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • American Kennel Club. (2015) Come, Grow Old With Me – CDS and Caring for Elderly Dogs. Recuperado el 21 de febrero de 2022, disponible en: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/come-grow-old-with-me/
  • Salzman, M. (2000). Pet trends: The state of the pet industry. Vital speeches of the day, 67(5), 147.
  • Niijima, Noriko. (2018). Why Diapers for dogs sell well in Japan?: Researches onof the nursing homes for the elderly dogs and cats in Japan. Conference: ISAZ(International Society of Anthrozoology) 2018 Sydney.
  • Dhaliwal, R., Boynton, E., Carrera-Justiz, S., Cruise, N., Gardner, M., Huntingford, J., … & Rozanski, E. (2023). 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 59(1), 1-21.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.