How properly bandage a dog
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How properly bandage a dog
How to bandage the dog’s wound
We spoke about wounds and disinfection in this article, the different types of injuries and the ways to treat them. But what if we need to bandage a paw or a part of the body of a pet? Which are the materials I have to use for a properly bandage? And How long we need to keep the bandage?
Firstly, we need to consider the materials, a basic canine first aid kit should include:
[1]
The use of Cotton wadding is particularly suitable for wound dressing, especially for those wounds releasing a large amount of exudate. Because of its absorbent propriety, the cotton wadding can adjust the humidity of the wound, soaking itself with the exudate. Pay attention to keep clean the cotton during the application, then cover with a gauze.
Bandage for a dog
A key factor to dog bandage stability is the correct tension on the dressing. The best way to bandage a wound Is a semi-compressive bandage that allows to keep the wound covered, without compromising circulation. Protective bandages applied to dogs will always be made up of several layers of bandage material. We leave out here the wrapping techniques, but if you want to learn more, you can find practical examples on this article.
Special (advanced) dressings are used to keep the wound moist. In the absence of these, gauze impregnated with fatty substances (vaseline), with a sufficient number of layers (from 5 to 9), may be good; A bandage can be impregnated with drugs or antibiotics for a controlled release of substances allowing to avoid infections.
If the wound beneath the bandage is infected, the bandage will need to be changed 1-2 times per day for the first few days, until the infection is under control. Your veterinarian will tell you how often the bandage on your pet will need to be changed, depending on the specifics of the case.[2]
Vet, we have a problem!
The hardest part is to keep the bandage on the animal. For this reason the vet usually creates a multiple-layer bandage.
There are a lot of tools or tips we can use to support our bandage. It Is possible to use an elastic and adhesive tape that stop the bandage slipping down. a home remedy is to use socks or old sweaters to be worn over the bandage, and the good old Elizabethan collar to avoid the dog taking off the bandage and licking the wound.
For back bandages, nowadays you can also find elastic body wrap on the market, that is also considered as an After-Surgery Wear.
