The Carpet is Brown, but Not That Brown
August 22, 2010 8:05 AM Subscribe
Protecting new carpet from elderly dogs
We have an opportunity to replace our carpet at a really good deal, but it has to be in the next couple of months. We unfortunately have a couple of elderly, sort of senile, and occasionally incontinent dogs. We'd like for this carpet to still be in good shape when we sell our house in the near-ish future. It'd be nice to wait until we move out/list the house for sale and replace it then, but this is a really, really good deal.
Is there anything we can do to protect the carpet from the dogs, while still being able to actually use the rooms? I'm concerned about stains as well as smell. Putting down some kind of plastic over the carpet seems like it would make it hard for elderly dogs to walk on, and unpleasant for bare feet. Could we try to put down plastic and then maybe carpet scraps over that, or something? Starting to seem excessively complicated and even more prone to slipping.
If we have to, we'll just replace the carpet again when we list the house for sale (this deal is that good) but it would be very nice if we could preserve this new carpet.
We have an opportunity to replace our carpet at a really good deal, but it has to be in the next couple of months. We unfortunately have a couple of elderly, sort of senile, and occasionally incontinent dogs. We'd like for this carpet to still be in good shape when we sell our house in the near-ish future. It'd be nice to wait until we move out/list the house for sale and replace it then, but this is a really, really good deal.
Is there anything we can do to protect the carpet from the dogs, while still being able to actually use the rooms? I'm concerned about stains as well as smell. Putting down some kind of plastic over the carpet seems like it would make it hard for elderly dogs to walk on, and unpleasant for bare feet. Could we try to put down plastic and then maybe carpet scraps over that, or something? Starting to seem excessively complicated and even more prone to slipping.
If we have to, we'll just replace the carpet again when we list the house for sale (this deal is that good) but it would be very nice if we could preserve this new carpet.
How about investing in an indoor potty? Or two?
Put it in the spot(s) they usually go on. My dogs are fairly predictable where they have their accidents. good luck!
posted by AuntieRuth at 8:47 AM on August 22, 2010
Put it in the spot(s) they usually go on. My dogs are fairly predictable where they have their accidents. good luck!
posted by AuntieRuth at 8:47 AM on August 22, 2010
Response by poster: Nah, my dogs aren't consistent when they have accidents; it's more of an actual accident wherever they happen to be. Senility will apparently do that to you, poor girls--but at least they seem pretty chipper most of the time. Next house: no carpets.
Pad with a moisture barrier: okay, got it. That makes a lot of sense. Got a steam cleaner/vacuum cleaner combo that has served me well in the past. Anything else I can do to protect the carpet, keep stuff from getting onto it in the first place?
Thanks!
posted by galadriel at 9:00 AM on August 22, 2010
Pad with a moisture barrier: okay, got it. That makes a lot of sense. Got a steam cleaner/vacuum cleaner combo that has served me well in the past. Anything else I can do to protect the carpet, keep stuff from getting onto it in the first place?
Thanks!
posted by galadriel at 9:00 AM on August 22, 2010
Anything else I can do to protect the carpet, keep stuff from getting onto it in the first place?
Aside from plastic sheeting over the top, I don't know of anything.
Unfortunately, the best option is to keep the dogs off the carpet. This, as we know, is not realistic.
posted by nickthetourist at 9:37 AM on August 22, 2010
Aside from plastic sheeting over the top, I don't know of anything.
Unfortunately, the best option is to keep the dogs off the carpet. This, as we know, is not realistic.
posted by nickthetourist at 9:37 AM on August 22, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestion. I don't think my back could handle putting on and taking off doggie diapers, nor additional cleanings to keep away diaper rash. I have a grooming table with a ramp I use for baths and things, but the senility is interfering with their ability to use it safely; trying to get them up there multiple times a day would be asking for injuries at least.
FWIW, they fortunately don't have *many* accidents; it's not an ongoing thing. Maybe once a month from one dog, as long as I can keep taking her outside on a pretty regular schedule. The other is maybe daily, maybe every few days, but mostly manages to hit the tile, where it's easily cleaned. ...2nd dog seems to be failing fast, so may not be a concern any more by the time we get new carpet :(
posted by galadriel at 9:44 AM on August 22, 2010
FWIW, they fortunately don't have *many* accidents; it's not an ongoing thing. Maybe once a month from one dog, as long as I can keep taking her outside on a pretty regular schedule. The other is maybe daily, maybe every few days, but mostly manages to hit the tile, where it's easily cleaned. ...2nd dog seems to be failing fast, so may not be a concern any more by the time we get new carpet :(
posted by galadriel at 9:44 AM on August 22, 2010
It's worth noting, since you mentioned that the dogs were female, that there is medication that might be worth looking into. My older female dog also has incontinence issues, but she takes Proin which mostly handles the problem.
That being said, she does occasionally still have accidents.
posted by KirTakat at 2:47 PM on August 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
That being said, she does occasionally still have accidents.
posted by KirTakat at 2:47 PM on August 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Yeah, dog the 2nd used to be on Proin until it stopped working. Before that she was on DES. But she's now much more ill, and nothing is helping.
Dog the 1st has upset tummy issues (much more likely to stain, too), not urinary incontinence.
posted by galadriel at 3:12 PM on August 22, 2010
Dog the 1st has upset tummy issues (much more likely to stain, too), not urinary incontinence.
posted by galadriel at 3:12 PM on August 22, 2010
One more suggestion? Scotchgard by 3m. I believe you can apply it yourself or ask your carpet dealer to apply it for you.
We used to have it on our carpet and for a long time the pee would just set on top of the carpet then easily soaked up with Shamwow. What nuts we dog owners are--
posted by AuntieRuth at 5:05 AM on August 23, 2010
We used to have it on our carpet and for a long time the pee would just set on top of the carpet then easily soaked up with Shamwow. What nuts we dog owners are--
posted by AuntieRuth at 5:05 AM on August 23, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
The advantage? You can fairly easily extract liquids from carpet, but once it is the pad it is there until the pad is removed. And it's very likely that if the liquid is in the pad it will also soak through to the substrate which will result in having to replace sections of underlayment, assuming your substrate is wood.
There are a number of carpet pads on the market with a moisture barrier in various weights/densities. I typically advise an 8lb rebond.
For cleaning, hot water extraction is best. Find a good carpet cleaner that does deep steam cleaning.
posted by nickthetourist at 8:32 AM on August 22, 2010