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You might think that once the hard work of house training your dog is done, you are done with the trials and tribulations of keeping your home free of the smell of dog urine.
But incontinence is common in dogs later in life, especially in female dogs that have been sprayed.
But if you start picking up on that unmistakable scent of urine around your dog and their bed, don’t despair.
Most cases of canine incontinence are treatable, and there are many products on the market to help you manage your dog’s incontinence in the meantime.
DISCLAIMER: We are not veterinarians. If you’re dog is suffering from any health issues including incontinence please contact your veterinarian.
Today, we are going to look at the two most important things you need to manage your dog’s incontinence.
- Doggy Diapers
- Incontinence Supplements
If your dog does start displaying signs of incontinence, they may need to spend a little bit of time in doggy diapers.
This not only keeps your house clean and smelling fresh but also protects your dog’s skin from constant contact with urine.
We’ll share with you our list of the four best doggy diapers on the market, including disposable and renewable options for male and female dogs (and yes, they need different things).
When it comes to treating incontinence, the treatment depends on the cause of the problem and you will need to speak to your vet about appropriate treatment.
But there are a variety of supplements out there that can strengthen the walls of your dog’s bladder, which is one of the main problems when it comes to incontinence.
We’ll share our top three non-prescription supplements to help treat your dog’s incontinence.
While dealing with canine incontinence is never fun, it is manageable. Make sure you never get mad at your dog or punish them for incontinence, as it is something beyond their control.
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Diapers
Incontinence Supplements
What Is Canine Incontinence?
The technical definition of canine incontinence is the involuntary leaking of urine from your dog’s bladder. It is quite different from them forgetting their house training for some reason and suddenly deciding to start peeing in the home.
You can read more about dogs that may have forgotten their house training and appear to be voluntarily peeing inside here.
While a dog may develop incontinence at any stage in their life for a number of reasons, it is most common in older female dogs that have been spayed. It happens most often because they lose control of the neck of their bladder, which allows the urine to leak out.
This leakage is uncontrollable, and your dog is probably not even aware that it is happening. You will notice because you find puddles of pee where they have been lying down, see that their hind area is wet, and sense a general smell of urine around your dog and their bedding.
There is no point in getting mad at your pup; this is not something they can control. It is also highly treatable in most cases with medications that help firm up the muscles around the bladder.
So, while you may need to put up with a bit of extra dog urine around the place for a few weeks, it is actually something you can resolve quickly with your vet.
There are two essential products you will need to help get you and your dog through this difficult time.
The first is dog diapers to help keep your dog dry. Not only is the smell of dog urine around your dog frustrating for you, but the constant contact of the skin with urine can cause a burning sensation and other irritation for your pooch.
The second thing is dietary supplements that are designed to help firm up the muscles around your dog’s bladder. Your vet may recommend just this in mild cases and may prescribe other medications in more serious cases, but this can then be supported with these dietary supplements.
So, let’s take a look at your best buying options.
You can read more about the causes and treatments of canine incontinence here.
4 Best Dog Diapers
When choosing dog diapers, you will find that there are different options for male and female pups. Male dogs wear a wrap that goes around their belly and captures urine that gets leaked in that direction. Female diapers look more like human diapers but with a hole to accommodate the tale.
You also need to choose between disposable and washable diapers, the latter being more environmentally friendly but not necessarily appropriate if you are dealing with significant amounts of urine.
We are recommending two disposable and two reusable diaper options.
1. All-Absorb Disposable Diapers
All-Absorb offers disposable diapers, both wraps for male dogs and full diapers for female dogs. They also offer training pads that can be used with bedding to help keep your dog dry at night.
- Disposable
- Wetness indicator
The diapers come in five sizes from toy to giant breeds and feature a no-leak design, which is effective since it is simple to find the right size. A wetness indicator that changes color lets you know when it is time to change your pooch’s diaper.
They use fur-safe closures that promise not to pull on your pup’s fur in an uncomfortable way. However, they aren’t a guarantee that your dog won’t be able to remove the diaper if they decide they don’t like wearing them.
Pros
- Male, female, and pad options
- Multiple sizes
- Wetness indicator
- Fur safe closure
Cons
- Not environmentally friendly
- A determined dog will be able to slip out
While disposable diapers aren’t environmentally friendly, if you need to use diapers for a limited period of time, these are an affordable and effective option.
2. Pet Parent Washable Dog Diapers
If you aren’t afraid of washing the occasional wet diaper, then check out these environmentally friendly options for both male and female pups from Pet Parent.
- Reusable
- Wide variety of sizes
They come in five sizes that cover pups with a waist as small as four inches or up to 35 inches so there is something for every dog.
The soft fabric shell contains a super-absorbent pad that won’t leak. To wash, rinse through thoroughly and then throw it in the washing machine. The diaper is durable enough to last scores of washes.
Pros
- Reusable
- Sizes for small and large dogs
- Soft outer shell
- Absorbent pad
- Machine washable
Cons
- Will last a limited number of washes
Washing dog diapers can be unpleasant, but if you are dealing with a mild case of incontinence, it is the most environmentally friendly option on the market.
3. Pet Magasin Reusable Dog Diapers
Pet Magasin also offers reusable diapers for both male and female dogs. They are a padded diaper with a soft coating that won’t make a crunching sound as your dog moves around.
The diapers come in four sizes, though they aren’t ideal for very small or very big pups.
The padded lining is absorbent enough to deal with even pretty big liquid spills. To wash, rinse thoroughly, and then either hand wash or put in the washing machine.
Pros
- Reusable
- No crunching sound
- Machine washable
- Absorbent pad
- Soft outer shell
Cons
This is the ideal choice if you don’t like to hear that plastic, crunching noise that can be associated with cheaper diapers.
4. OUT! Disposable Diapers
OUT! offers a range of disposable diapers for both male and female dogs, along with their range of cleaning products to deal with dog urine stains and odors.
- Disposable
- Odor neutralizing
What sets these diapers apart is that it includes a baking soda-based odor neutralizer, which means your dog won’t carry around the residual smell of urine with them. But you’ll know when they need changing thanks to the moisture indicator.
The material is moisture-wicking, which means your dog shouldn’t develop burns from the urine.
Pros
- Odor neutralizing
- Moisture-wicking
- Moisture indicator
Cons
- Limited sizes available
- Not environmentally friendly
It is just a shame that these excellent diapers only come in three sizes, so there may not be good options for your pup.
3 Best Dog Incontinence Supplements
When you discover that your dog is incontinent, you will need to speak to your vet to determine the cause, as different causes will require different treatments, which could include anything from antibiotics to surgery.
But, if your dog’s incontinence is caused by a weakening of the muscles around the bladder, either due to old age or something like a urinary tract infection, your vet may also point you toward supplements that can help your dog strengthen those muscles.
Here is our choice of the best incontinence supplements you can get for your dog without a prescription.
1. NaturVet Bladder Supplement Plus Cranberry Dog Tablets
This powerful formula combines echinacea for immunity and reduces the frequency of urinary tract infections (UTIs) with cranberry for optimal bladder health.
Completely wheat-free, the soft chews make a tasty treat up to twice a day depending on the size of your dog and helps to maintain the pH balance in the bladder, which is one of the major causes of canine incontinence.
This supplement is best used in combination with prescription medications to get your dog back to normal as quickly as possible. It uses all-natural ingredients, so you can be sure it doesn’t interact badly with anything else they are taking.
Pros
- All-natural
- Wheat-free
- Treats and prevents urinary tract infections
- Maintain the pH levels of the bladder
Cons
- Limited active ingredients for muscle firming
This is one of the best all-natural ways to support your pup through a period of incontinence or other urinary issues
2. Nutri-Vet Bladder Control Dog Chewables
This is a powerful recipe that combines both natural herbs and natural isoflavones that reduces incontinence, especially in spayed and elderly dogs.
- Pumpkin seed powder
- Rehmannia root
The ingredients actively work to strengthen the bladder walls, which means your dog is less likely to empty their bladder unconsciously.
These chewable treats are liver flavored – sounds disgusting but your dog will love it – so you can also use it as a treat, giving them one chewable per day per 25 pounds of bodyweight.
Pros
- Strengthens bladder walls
- Liver flavor that appeals to dogs
- All-natural
Cons
- Heavy dosage for smaller dogs
This is one of the fastest working non-prescription supplements you can give your dog to clear up their incontinence. But beware of the dosage level when you have a smaller dog.
3. VetriScience Bladder Strength Dog Tablets
This is another powerful and natural supplement that can help strengthen your dog’s bladder walls and help cure their incontinence.
- Pumpkin seed powder
- Rehmannia glutinosa
Pumpkin seed powder, rehmannia glutinosa, saw palmetto extract, and olive leaf extract work naturally to improve bladder control, especially in spayed and senior pets.
It works especially well in female dogs, with soy protein and isoflavones supporting proper estrogen production. It is also vegetarian approved for dogs on a special diet.
Pros
- Strengthens bladder walls
- All-natural
- Supports proper estrogen production
Cons
- Better for female than male dogs
As incontinence is most common in senior female dogs, this formula is developed especially for them and will have them back to their happy selves in no time.
FAQs
What Can You Give A Dog For Incontinence?
While you should always speak to your vet to determine the underlying cause of your dog’s incontinence, and therefore appropriate treatment, there are a variety of supplements you can give your dog that will help.
These give your dog a powerful dose of natural ingredients that can strengthen the walls of your dog’s bladder. This is usually a major factor in most cases of canine incontinence.
Common ingredients include pumpkin seed powder, rehmannia extract, soy protein, vitamin B6, and isoflavones.
Why Has My Dog Suddenly Become Incontinent?
There are a variety of different things that may cause incontinence in your dog. Among the most common causes are bladder infections, hormonal fluctuations, and severe stress. It is significantly more common in older female dogs that have been spayed than other dogs, but it can affect any dog at any time.
How Do You Treat Incontinence In Dogs Naturally?
The treatment of your dog’s incontinence depends on the cause. It could just be the result of a UTI or it could be a symptom of a more serious disease. Treatment can range from antibiotics to surgery.
However, there are natural treatments that can do a lot to improve incontinence in dogs. This is because one of the major factors in canine incontinence is a weakening of the bladder walls, so dietary supplements that can strengthen those walls can help a lot.
Look out for vet-approved supplements that include ingredients such as pumpkin seed powder, rehmannia extract, soy protein, vitamin B6, and isoflavones.
Does Incontinence Go Away In Dogs?
It can seem like incontinence in dogs ebbs and flows, but this is usually a build-up to a worsening of the underlying condition. The incontinence will not go away on its own if the underlying problem isn’t treated.
The Verdict
If your older dog develops a case of incontinence, don’t get mad. They aren’t doing it on purpose; incontinence is an involuntary leaking of the bladder. There is nothing they can do about it on their own, and they probably aren’t even aware they are doing it.
Canine incontinence is both highly manageable and highly treatable. Top-quality and affordable doggy diapers exist to keep your dog dry and your home free of the smell of urine.
While treatment depends on the cause of the problem, you can find all-natural dietary supplements that can work to strengthen the walls of your dog’s bladder, one of the main culprits when it comes to canine incontinence.
Yes, incontinence means your dog needs some extra love and care, but it is nothing to worry about.
Have you dealt with an incontinent dog?
Share your experiences with the community in the comments section below.
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Essential Products For Managing Incontinent Dogs was last modified: March 20th, 2021 by
