Take five dog care skin#

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian - they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.It’s currently estimated that only 9% of people with Wills include provisions for their cats, dogs, or exotic birds.

When should I have the bandage removed?.

How do I take care of the bandage at home?.

When should I come back to have it changed?.

You play a big role in taking care of it appropriately at home. Using a pet bandage is as much of an art as it is a science.However, if any of the signs above are noticed at home, it may need to be changed sooner.

This should be done from once a day to once a week, depending on the reason for the bandage. Even if everything goes well, the bandage should be scheduled for changing regularly.Needless to say, bandage changes should be performed by a veterinary professional. If it’s after hours, please take your dog to the closest emergency clinic. If you note any of the problems mentioned above, do not hesitate to call your vet and ask to be seen.Very energetic dogs and dogs with shorter and stockier legs tend to be very difficult to bandage. Even the best of bandages can slip, and therefore become useless.Swallowing parts of the bandage could cause a blockage in the intestine! They can cause a lot of damage in a very short period of time, possibly returning the healing process to square one. Even when pets seem to be uninterested, they can chew up the bandage when they get bored or start feeling itchy or painful. collar (plastic cone) will prevent him from destroying the bandage. Your dog must not be able to chew or lick at the bandage. This would cause the bandage to get wet anyway. The bandage must be able to 'breathe' in order to prevent moisture from building up inside of the bag. Remove the cover as soon as your pet is back inside. Your vet can provide you with a special cover or you can make one with a simple plastic bag or 'press and seal' type material. Prevent the bandage from becoming wet or soiled by covering it when your dog goes outside.

Take five dog care skin#

Infected areas tend to have a nasty odor, so you may want to 'take a whiff' on a daily basis to ensure that the skin is happy under the bandage. In addition, a wet bandage can lead to skin infection because dark, moist and warm areas are breeding grounds for bacteria. If the bandage gets wet (from drinking water, urine, dew or rain), it means the materials used to wrap it may constrict the leg and cause the same problems mentioned above.

If you’re not sure what normal toes should look like, simply look at the opposite foot to compare. Toes that become swollen don’t touch each other, which means that the bandage it too tight. The middle toes (3 and 4) and the toe nails normally touch each other. A simple way to monitor this is to check your pet’s toes several times a day. If bandages are too tightly wrapped, they can cause excessive pressure and cut off blood circulation. Your veterinarian should always put the bandage on, but once you get home it’s important that you keep a close eye on it. A bandage that contains a hard, molded piece of plastic is called a splint, which can provide immobilization before and after a fracture is repaired. They can absorb drainage, protect incisions and help with cleaning up wounds. Kelly Serfas, a Certified Veterinary Technician in Bethlehem, PA, contributed to this article.īandages are used for various reasons.