How to Put Bandages On Your Dog and Keep 'em There!

Our dogs do get quite rowdy a lot of times and could get themselves into all sorts of trouble, some of which may involve a couple of bruised limbs and other injuries. In such cases, it would require the use of bandaging to treat the said injuries. But then, dogs are not used to such things and they may try to chew it off or scratch it in order to remove that annoying thing that's wrapped around their body parts. So we need to know how to keep those bandages and also how we could keep our dogs from removing them.

These are the things that you would need to know once your dog gets a bandage:

First and foremost, make sure that the bandage is still in place on your way home from the vet's
office. Check if your dog has already tried to scratch it off and has moved into a different position where the vet has placed it. Also, try to see if the bandage had already bunched up. In this case, you would need to change the bandage.

Secondly, make sure that the bandage is not put too tightly. If the bandage is in your dog's limbs, you may want to check into his toes for some swelling or pain, for these are the signs that the bandage is put too tightly around his leg. Do this at least twice daily.

Third, you can put an Elizabethan collar around his neck to prevent him from chewing or scratching the bandage off from his body. But if you notice that he is doing this too frequently, you must consult your
veterinarian for some possible explanations.

Fourth, always keep the bandage clean and dry to prevent the development of infections. Check if you can see any discharge or foul-smelling odours. This could be an indication of more serious problems. Try to keep your dog inside your house while he has a bandage to prevent him from going into garbage and waste cans which may lead to possible contact with bacteria and other disease causing agents that may cling to the bandage. Cover the bandaged leg of your dog when he tries to urinate or defecate. If it does get wet, change the bandage immediately.

Return to your veterinarian if you see any swelling, bleeding, or discharge coming out of the bandage and also when there is a scheduled change of bandaging.

Steve Weber, an avid dog lover, has much experience in dealing with dog arthritis and other canine health related issues affecting pets. On his website, Steve offers many more articles and detailed information about using his product, Syn-flex glucosamine, for treating osteo-arthritic disease.