Caregiver Resource
A calm, practical, vet-guided guide for caregivers of dogs with mobility needs.
Start with your vet: Have your veterinary team demonstrate the method for your dog. This page is a supportive refresher—not a replacement for hands-on instruction.
Before You Begin
Choose a non-slip, easy-to-clean area. Keep towels, wipes, gloves and a record sheet nearby.
★ Helpful tip: A pee pad always comes in handy if you have one.
Use the position and timing your vet recommends for your dog. Keep movements calm and give your dog time to settle.
Stop if your dog appears painful or distressed, or if something feels different from their normal routine.
Option 1
Some dogs are most comfortable resting on their side on a pee pad. Use only the support and handling method your veterinary team has shown you.
This picture is an orientation guide only. Your vet should show you the safe hand placement and technique for your dog.
Option 2
Some caregivers use a comfortable, supported standing setup. A person may support the dog from underneath; others may find a knee-level rest helpful. Choose only a position your vet or rehabilitation team has approved.
Never put weight or pressure on a recovering dog’s spine. Ask your vet to demonstrate safe support.
Option 3
A correctly fitted wheelchair or other mobility support can help some dogs stay comfortable and upright. Confirm the fit and position with your veterinary or rehabilitation team.
A cart is not right for every dog. Supervise your dog and use only equipment that fits safely.
Comfort, hydration and routine
Every dog’s needs are different. Your vet can help you find the routine that keeps your dog comfortable and well supported.
If your vet says it is appropriate for your dog, adding a little water to their usual balanced meal may help some dogs take in more fluid. Keep fresh water available and ask your vet if drinking changes suddenly.
Do not continue by using more pressure. Pause, help your dog settle, and contact your vet if you cannot follow their usual routine or they appear uncomfortable.
Choose a complete and balanced diet that suits your dog. If you suspect a food allergy or intolerance, ask your vet for a tailored plan rather than relying on “allergy-tested” claims.
Never withhold water or make a diet change because of bladder care without speaking to your veterinary team.
Finding the bladder
Your veterinary team can show you what this feels like for your dog. When there is enough urine present, it may feel like a small water balloon in the lower rear abdomen—not the chest or rib cage.
Do not work at the chest or ribs. If something feels hard, unfamiliar or wrong, pause rather than trying harder.
Do not assume a soft, narrow structure is the bladder. Stop and ask your vet to demonstrate again.
Use broad, gentle, flat-hand contact—not poking fingertips or force. If you cannot confidently identify the bladder your vet showed you, do not press: stop and ask for help.
What helped us with Loui
These are the practical habits that helped us manage bladder care at home. They are personal experience, not a prescription — your dog’s bladder function, skin and care schedule may be completely different.
With Loui, we usually expressed his bladder roughly every 5–6 hours during the day and normally started on a pee pad. That was his routine, not a universal schedule. Your veterinary team should tell you how often your dog needs expressing and how they want you to monitor bladder emptying.
At night, we usually did Loui’s last bladder expression at around 11pm–midnight, then expressed him again when we woke at around 7am. Our vet told us that overnight gap was appropriate for Loui while he was sleeping. That was advice for his situation, so ask your own veterinary team what overnight timing is safe for your dog.
If urine reached Loui’s belly, legs or underside, we supported his whole body, moved him into the bath after expressing, rinsed the affected skin with lukewarm water and then dried him thoroughly with a soft towel.
Keeping urine off the skin became a simple part of our routine whenever he was wet.
We paid particular attention between his toes, around the paws and in little skin folds so dampness was not left sitting there.
Check the skin regularly and speak to your vet if you see broken skin, worsening redness, discharge, a strong smell or irritation that is not settling.
For Loui, our veterinary team advised a very small amount of Sudocrem on selected irritated areas that he could not lick. We would not recommend copying this automatically.
Some human nappy creams contain ingredients such as zinc oxide that can be harmful if swallowed. Ask your vet which barrier product, if any, is appropriate for your dog and keep topical products away from areas they can lick.
Our biggest tip: get the technique and schedule from your veterinary team first, then build the home routine around what they have taught you.
Watch & Learn
Watching different demonstrations can make the idea easier to understand, but a video cannot tell you the right hand position, pressure or schedule for your individual dog. Ask your vet or veterinary nurse to demonstrate on your dog and check your technique first.
A third-party demonstration we found useful while learning.
A second visual demonstration showing another approach.
Another third-party video that may help make the technique easier to visualise.
A further demonstration for visual reference only.
These are third-party resources and Aubenord does not control their content. For another detailed IVDD owner-care resource, see Dodgerslist’s incontinence-care tips →.
Top tips from us
It can feel overwhelming at first, but many caregivers find it becomes a manageable routine with patient, vet-guided practice. Some people feel confident quickly; others need several supervised sessions. You are not alone.
Plan care around your dog’s vet-approved routine. If flexibility is possible, have an honest conversation with your manager.
Platforms such as Bark and Rover may help you find local sitters. Ask about relevant experience and arrange several supervised practice visits before they take over care.
Choose a primary sitter and train at least one backup. Availability changes, and a calm Plan B helps prevent gaps in care.
If you need more practice or reassurance, contact your vet. If you need support from Aubenord, you can email us and we will do our best to help.
Optional practical support
Smart entry systems and home cameras can make it easier for a trusted, trained sitter to get in and for you to check in when needed.
A smart lock can reduce stressful key handovers when a trained helper is coming for a scheduled visit.
Video check-ins can be useful for coordination, but should never replace in-person care when your dog needs it.
Use individual, revocable access codes and tell sitters clearly if cameras are operating.
Urgent Care
Straining without producing urine, or a sudden major change in output.
Distress, lethargy, vomiting, blood in the urine, or a firm or swollen-looking abdomen.
Do not keep trying with more force. Contact a vet urgently for advice.
Do not keep trying with more force. Contact a vet urgently for advice.
Aubenord provides general educational information. We are not veterinary professionals, and this page is not intended to diagnose, treat or replace advice from a qualified veterinarian.
Every dog’s condition is different. Always discuss bladder care and any change in symptoms with your vet or veterinary specialist.
Trust & safety
Aubenord provides general educational guidance. Diagnosis, treatment and changes to an individual dog’s care plan should come from the veterinary professionals responsible for that dog.
Aubenord cannot assess your dog’s neurological function, pain, bladder or bowel function, diagnosis, rehabilitation needs or treatment plan.
Follow your veterinary team’s individual advice. Seek prompt veterinary assessment for new or worsening pain, weakness, wobbliness, bladder changes, paralysis or loss of walking ability.
Aubenord’s IVDD content is prepared by the Aubenord Editorial Team using peer-reviewed veterinary literature, specialist consensus guidance and reputable clinical sources.
Where owner experience, including Loui’s story, is included, it is clearly separated from veterinary evidence.
