Packing for Doggy Day-Care for Your Incontinent Dog

Are you packing for doggy day-care for your incontinent dog? It’s every doggy owner’s worst moment—when they have to drop off their beloved pooch at doggy daycare. While you’ve done your homework, checked and vetted the facility, and socialized your dog with other dogs, it’s never easy or fun to leave them in the care of strangers (even well-trained strangers).

It’s a problem that becomes infinitely more challenging when you have an elderly or incontinent dog that needs to stay at daycare or with family when you travel. How do you prepare, and what should you leave with your dog to ensure they are cared for according to their needs?

Let’s find out how to pack for your incontinent dog’s needs when they are in the care of strangers.

Steps to Successfully Pack for Your Incontinent Dog’s Needs

You would have briefed the person caring for your dog on their unique needs since they have incontinence. Write down a few instructions on when to feed, what time to give them water, when to take them for a potty break, and how often to change their diapers or belly wraps.

Here are a few other things to ensure when acking for doggy day-care for your incontinent dog. This is so your dog receives the best possible care while you are not with them.

1. Disposable Diapers or Belly Bands

Pack enough belly bands or diapers to ensure your dog will have new ones, no matter how many of the old ones they soil. When I have to leave my dog for a few days, I like to pack these in separate ziplock packets that are labeled with the day. A packet with extra diapers or wraps is also a great idea.

While I hope I can trust the people I leave my dog with, I also like to verify they have been using the amount of wraps and diapers I left them. Since I’ve noted how many diapers or wraps I’ve packed, I can tally up by checking on how many weren’t used.

What about reusable wraps and diapers? While I am absolutely in favor of using reusable or washable wraps and diapers, I don’t expect someone else to wash these. Keeping soiled diapers or wraps for more than a day before washing isn’t hygienic, and I don’t know many people who would willingly wash your dog’s soiled ones for you. But you can always check if this service is included.

2. Hypoallergenic Baby or Doggy Wipes

Cleaning between changing diapers or belly wraps may be a simple wipe with a washcloth at home, but I try to make things easy for people helping me out. Adding in a pack of hypoallergenic baby wipes or special doggy wipes can really make life easy for the person at daycare or the friend who’s looking after your pooch.

I also like to add a picture on the pack of my dog’s areas to wipe, drawing lines in permanent marker so the person knows exactly where to wipe.

3. Bags for Soiled Diapers and Wraps

While you can usually tie up a soiled diaper or belly band in the wrapper of the new one, it’s just more convenient and clean to provide several bags to place soiled products in for disposal. I like to use the little roll that comes with a pooper-scooper, or you can use kitchen bin bags, ziplock packets, or baby diaper disposable bags. Ensure you leave enough for the number of diapers your dog needs for the time they are not in your care.

4. Anti-Allergy Lotion

No matter how well the carer looks after your dog, chances are your pooch will develop a rash, rub, or chafe. Ensure you leave a good quality anti-allergy lotion to apply to the affected areas so you don’t have an even worse problem when you collect your dog if their condition has been left untreated.

5. Diaper Liners

Some dogs need diaper liners, and even if you don’t usually need them, it’s a good idea to leave some for the carer to use if needed. Adding a liner when your dog has developed a rash can help ease them through the situation, and it gives the carer a sense they are doing something for your dog (because they will probably feel terrible if your dog develops a rash).

6. Doggy Treats

Rewarding your dog for letting the carer change their diapers and wraps is a great way to make life easier for the person standing in your stead. I like to leave a few individually sealed doggy treats in each packet of diapers or wraps for the carer to use when changing the diapers or wraps for the day.

7. Harness and Lead

While your dog may happily lie down and let you change their diapers or belly bands, they won’t necessarily be so happy to have a stranger (or even someone they know) do it.

Restraints like a harness and lead may be needed if your dog becomes uncooperative.

If your dog nips or growls, it may also be necessary to leave a mussel to protect the carer or even to give that person a sense they are protected from your dog snapping at them while changing the diapers or wraps.

What are the disadvantages of doggy daycare for a disabled dog?

When a dog has special needs, such as being incontinent, you need to check what services a daycare center will offer them. Ensure there are enough helpers at a daycare facility to actually spend time with your dog and tend to their unique needs.

Some daycare centers have limited staff, and your dog may end up spending the whole day in soiled diapers, which will create hygiene issues.

The Final Send-Off

When you start leaving your dog at a daycare facility, it’s important to start a few days at a time. If you suddenly leave them for prolonged periods with strangers, your dog may believe they have been abandoned.

Now you know what to do when packing for doggy day-care for your incontinent dog. Pack all the necessary items your dog needs for their comfort and care, and choose your dog’s carer with great forethought. After all, you are leaving your friend with them.

Helping Your Four-Legged Friend To Age Well