Bandages & Drains

If your pet returns home with a bandage it will be for one of these reasons:

• To stop your pet from interfering with the wound (by licking, scratching or biting etc.) while it is healing

• To stop bacteria from getting in from the outside – in other words to stop dirt entering the wound and reduce chances of contamination

• To support damaged areas.

Please note that the bandage MUST be applied so that it is comfortable yet secure and allows the tissue underneath to breathe. It must not be too tight.

THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR

• The dressing gets wet, stained or becomes discoloured

• The dressing starts to smell in any way

• Your pet becomes distressed and is trying to scratch or bite off the bandage

• The dressing moves

• Any areas below the bandage start to swell or change colour

• Your pet continues to bite/scratch the bandage so much that is becomes damaged

If you notice any of the above please come back in and let us look at it again.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO DO THE FOLLOWING

• ALWAYS follow your Vet's advice

• Keep the bandage dry – if your pet has to go outside then make sure the bandage is covered up by a protective coating and remove it when your pet is back inside.

• Donʼt let the bandage become dirty if you can help it – dirt increases the chance of infection and is not healthy.

• Restrict your petʼs activities where possible – i.e. for Cats keep them indoors, for Dogs donʼt let them run outside in muddy, wet areas instead keep them on a short leash and go for small walks.

• Donʼt let your pets chew the bandages – if necessary we can provide collars to stop them from being able to chew.

DRAINS

We may have stitched in a Penrose Drain. This is a length of porous rubber tubing which allows fluid to escape from areas likely to swell after surgery. As best you can keep these clean with saline bathing. Drains will normally be removed four days after they are inserted


FINALLY – DO REMEMBER THAT PETS CANNOT TALK – IF IT LOOKS PAINFUL OR NOT RIGHT THEN COME BACK IN TO SEE US. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY