Bandage Care in Pets
Proper Bandage After Care:
The success for the bandage depends on how great your pet is managed at home. Bandages can help but they can hurt also. You must exercise a good judgment:
1. The patient must be confined and not be allowed to jump or run with bandage on unsupervised. If you cannot provide this care then hospitalize your pet for that period.
2. Make every effort to keep it clean and dry. Getting the bandage wet will promote infection. If there is a chance of getting wet, then cover the bandage with heavy plastic, or use a rubber glove to cover the bandage when the animal goes outside for daily walks on leash. All walks should be brief, just long enough to urinate or defecate. If the bandage gets wet or damp, either return with your pet to the hospital for a bandage change or change it yourself.
3. Do not let the patient chew, lick, or remove the bandage. If the pet licks or continuously chews or if there is an odor or the dressing smells, bring your pet back for examination.
4. Some pets can chew on a normal healing wound. If this is the case, apply a plastic restraint collar around your pet's neck to prevent from chewing on or to protect the bandage.
5. Check the toes daily and if they are cold or swollen,
immediately remove the bandage or bring your pet
to the office.
6. Bring your pet to have the bandage rechecked , changed and examined. Since the bandages hide things from sight, we can avoid problems by having the bandage changed as often as 2-3 days.