Quick Question: Wet Foot Bandage

[Xan]

Brilly had a toe amputated last Thursday. All's going well, and he's scheduled for a bandage change at 9am tomorrow morning (second change). DH took him out and forgot to put the boot over his bandage, and it's now pretty well damp.

 

Should I go ahead and change it myself tonight, or wait until tomorrow morning?

 

I can change it. I have the bandages and I'm not afraid to use them. But, if it will be fine 'til tomorrow, that's okay with me, too.

 

What say you? Anyone with some strong opinions sitting around reading GT tonight?

[KF_in_Georgia]

Sorry. No strong opinions here. (No experience with heavy-duty bandages.)

 

But--if it was just dew and not mud puddles, I'd think it likely that only the outer vet wrap and a bit of the padding got damp/wet--rather than a thorough soaking all the way to the wound. In that case, I wouldn't worry about 12(?) hours of a moderately damp bandage between now and tomorrow morning. But if the wet goes all the way to the wound, I probably would want to take the wet one off, at least.

[Xan]

Oh, hm. Maybe I should just take the vet wrap off and check the padding. If it is wet, re-bandage, or just re-wrap with dry vet wrap if not. Good thinking!

[greysmom]

Check to see if it soaked through. If so, you should change it. Even a short time holding damp padding against delicate skin will be not good.

[Xan]

We did change it, and I'm glad we did. It was damp to the skin and ... it was just time. I did not do a beautiful job. But, oh well, it's clean, dry, and it will be changed again tomorrow.

 

Thanks for the input!!!

[Batmom]

Good job.

 

You want to change them any time they get wet, and as soon as you can.

[Xan]

Yep, that's how I felt, but DH was suggesting it would be fine overnight. I'm glad we went ahead and changed it though.

 

I need those bandage scissors, the ones with the blunt thingy on the bottom blade.

[KF_in_Georgia]

I need those bandage scissors, the ones with the blunt thingy on the bottom blade.

 

I found an inexpensive pair at Walgreen's. My girl had a biopsy once, and the doctor's office bandaged her leg way too tight. Her foot was fat and swollen and she was miserable. The vet's office was closed, and I didn't want to pay $104+ at the ER, but the vet wrap was so tight and it wouldn't unwrap without pulling on her leg. (And this was my GSOD/crybaby dog--although in this case a little crying was justified.) I was never so happy to see a $6 pair of bandage scissors in my life...

[Xan]

Ugh! Yeah, foot bandage woes, we has dem. Actually, it's going great, this time. Our first experience, years ago, was not good. That seems to be a good price. I'm going to get some.

 

Anyone have a source in the US for Sofban? My vet has it, and I can buy it from them, but maybe cheaper elsewhere?

[Batmom]

In a pinch you can use kids' blunt-tipped craft scissors. Or if you're mostly just cutting a top layer of vetwrap (slightly stretchy), any scissors that don't have a sharp point. I slide my finger in under the bandage first, then slide the bottom jaw of the scissors right along my finger and cut there (being careful not to cut my finger!). I do love my little bandage scissors, but a girl can get by without them in time of need.

[Xan]

That's what I had to do the other day, and it worked, but yeah, those bandage scissors would be an improvement!