Preventing Dog Diaper Rash

You may have to use a dog diaper on your pet if he’s suffering from urinary incontinence or other underlying health conditions that cause involuntary urination. While diapers prevent your dog from accidentally messing the floor, they do cause skin irritation that’s more commonly known as diaper rash.

If the diaper rash is left untreated it can cause excessive discomfort and lead to skin inflammation. It’s therefore important to take a few preventive measures to keep diaper rash at bay.

Using Diapers on Your Pet

If your dog is suffering from urinary incontinence, you should first find out the cause of the incontinence and only use diapers if the vet recommends it. If urinary incontinence can be managed by taking the dog outdoors frequently or by administering herbal remedies, you won’t have to rely on diapers to manage accidental urination.

Herbal remedies are a good choice because they offer long term results that aim at promoting bladder health and tightening the sphincter muscles. But if the herbal remedies don’t work and the urinary incontinence can’t be controlled, you will have to use dog diapers and learn how to prevent diaper rash from developing.

Tips to Avoid Diaper Rash:

  • If you have to use diapers, make sure you purchase diapers that are softly lined. Also buy diapers that fit your pet’s body. They shouldn’t be too snug.
  • Trim the hair the surrounds the pet’s genitals. If you can’t do this on your own, make sure you get it professionally done.
  • Change the diapers often, particularly if the pet has defecated. This minimizes the risk of bacterial infections that travel up the urinary tract.
  • Use good quality baby wipes to wipe the area around the pet’s genitals. You could also use a hypoallergenic baby powder to dust the area around the genitals before putting on the diaper.
  • If the powder doesn’t agree with the pet’s skin, stop using it.
  • If the pet has already developed diaper rash, use an antibiotic ointment that’s formulated for use on pets, to soothe the skin and kill any infection that’s present. 
  • Remember to wash the genitals at least 3 to 4 times a day if you use diapers throughout the day and night.

Dealing with Incontinent Pets

Instead of only relying on diapers to manage urinary incontinence, consider taking the pet outdoors more often, especially when you are at home. You should also take the pet out half an hour after he has consumed any food or water, because his body will most likely eliminate urine at that time.

Since the incontinence is not associated with any behavioral issues, you have to be patient when living with pets that are incontinent. Avoid punishing or reprimanding them for accidental urination as this will only confuse them and won’t solve the problem.

You will have to work closely with the vet to find out if the condition can be reversed. Give your pet access to plenty of fresh water even though he urinates often, as this will prevent him from developing life-threatening urinary tract infections like urethral blockage.

 

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