WILD- Topic 37: Bandages

A bandage is a piece of material used to support a dressing or splint, to provide protection to a wound or to restrict the movement of a part of the body. Other bandages are used without dressings, such as elastic bandages that are used to reduce swelling or provide more stringent support. These tight bandages can be used to slow blood flow to an extremity, such as when a limb is bleeding heavily. Bandages can often be improvised, as the situation demands, using clothing, blankets or other material and are placed using three layers of dressing. Only a trained individual should place a bandage on a pet. Bandages that are placed too tight or too loose can sometimes cause more damage than the injury itself.

Purpose of a bandage:

• To cover a wound
• To provide support
•  To be used in combination with a splint to immobilize a limb

Bandages generally have 3-4 layers. The first layer (primary) is a non-stick or absorbable layer used to cover any wounds. The second layer (secondary) is primarily padding to provide support. The third layer is gauze (this layer is optional in wound bandages) and is generally used to compress and even the bandage. The outer layer can be Vet Wrap, Coflex, or an Ace bandage and is used to help keep the bandage clean and dry.

Bandages can easily become dangerous. If they are placed too tightly, they can cut of blood supply to areas of the body. If they get wet/damp, they can cause skin damage or increase the risk of infection. If splints are placed incorrectly, they can cause pain or worsen the injury.

Some general rules of bandaging:

• If bandaging a limb, make sure the bandage extends all the way to the toes, even if that part of the leg is unaffected. Leaving the foot or toes unwrapped, with a bandage above them, can increase the risk of swelling and circulation damage to the foot.
• If the bandage gets wet, change it.
• If blood soaks through a bandage, do not remove it. Add more bandage on top of it.
• When a bandage is in place, check toes frequently for pain, swelling, or coldness.