Small Animal Bandaging, Casting, and Splinting Techniques

Table of Contents:
Mission Statement xi Foreword xiii Preface xv Acknowledgments xvii Chapter 1 – Basics of Bandaging, Casting, and Splinting 3 Bandaging 3 Purposes and functions of a bandage 3 Components of a bandage 4 Primary-contact layer 4 Highly absorptive dressings 4 Gauze dressings 4 Hypertonic saline dressings 5 Calcium alginate dressings 5 Copolymer starch dressings 5 Moisture-retentive dressings 5 Polyurethane foam dressings 6 Polyurethane film dressings 6 Hydrogel dressings 7 Hydrocolloid dressings 7 Nonadherent semiocclusive dressings 7 Antimicrobial dressings 8 Extracellular matrix bioscaffold dressings 8 Secondary-intermediate layer 9 Tertiary-outer layer 9 Special considerations in bandaging, casting, and splinting 10 Frequency of changes 10 Security 10 Pressure relief 11 Joint immobilization 11 Maceration and excoriation 12 Need for sedation or anesthesia during bandage change 12 Casts and splints 13 General information 13 Purposes and functions of casts and splints 13 Materials 13 Splint rods 13 Commercial splints 13 Plastic splinting material 13 Stockinette 13 Casting tapes 14 Chapter 2 – Head and Ear Bandages 15 Emergency ear bandage 15 Indications 15 Technique 15 Aftercare 16 Advantages and complications 16 Basic head and ear bandage 16 Indications 16 Technique 16 Aftercare 22 Advantages and complications 23 Chapter 3 – Thoracic, Abdominal, and Pelvic Bandages 25 Thoracic, abdominal bandages 25 Circumferential thoracic, abdominal bandage 25 Indications 25 Technique 26 Aftercare 29 Advantages and complications 29 Windowed thoracic, abdominal bandage 29 Indications 29 Technique 29 Aftercare 29 Advantages and complications 29 Thoracic, abdominal tie-over bandage 29 Indications 29 Technique 30 Aftercare 31 Advantages and complications 31 Pelvic bandages 32 Circumferential pelvic bandage 32 Indications 32 Technique 33 Aftercare 35 Advantages and complications 35 Windowed pelvic bandage 36 Indications 36 Technique 36 Aftercare 38 Advantages and complications 38 Pelvic tie-over bandage 39 Indications 39 Technique 39 Aftercare 39 Advantages and complications 39 Pelvic extension splints 39 Indications 39 Technique 40 Aftercare 41 Advantages and complications 41 Chapter 4 – Extremity Bandages, Casts, and Splints 43 Tail bandages 43 Indications 43 Technique 44 Aftercare 47 Advantages and complications 47 Forelimb bandages, casts, and splints 47 Basic soft padded limb bandage 47 Indications 48 Technique 48 Aftercare 54 Bandage removal 54 Bandage replacement 55 Advantages and complications 55 Interdigital and interpad areas 55 Primary bandage layer 56 Secondary bandage layer 56 Tertiary bandage layer 56 Basic paw and distal limb bandage 56 Indications 56 Technique 56 Interdigital/interpad areas 56 Primary bandage layer, “donut” pads, and “stirrups” 58 Secondary bandage layer 62 Tertiary bandage layer 64 Aftercare 67 Bandage removal 67 Bandage replacement 67 Advantages and complications 68 Interdigital/interpad area 68 Primary bandage layer 68 Secondary bandage layer 68 Tertiary bandage layer 69 Paw pad pressure relief 69 Indications 69 Technique—moderate wounds on small to medium-sized dogs 69 Metacarpal/metatarsal pad 69 Digital pads 70 Aftercare—moderate wounds on small to medium-sized dogs 71 Advantages and complications—moderate wounds on small to medium-sized dogs 71 Techniques—major reconstructive or salvage paw surgery, especially on large dogs 71 ”Clamshell” splints 71 One-half “clamshell” splint 72 Aftercare—major reconstructive or salvage paw surgery, especially on large dogs 73 Advantages and complications—major reconstructive or salvage paw surgery, especially on large dogs 73 Dorsal paw pressure relief 73 Indications 73 Technique 74 Aftercare 75 Advantages and complications 75 Carpal sling 75 Indications 75 Technique 76 Aftercare 78 Advantages and complications 78 Basic forelimb splint 78 Indications 78 Technique 78 Aftercare 83 Advantages and complications 83 Basic forelimb cast 83 Spica bandage and lateral splint 83 Indications 83 Technique 84 Aftercare 87 Advantages and complications 87 Aluminum rod loop elbow splint 88 Indications 88 Technique 88 Aftercare 89 Advantages and complications 89 Velpeau sling 89 Indications 89 Technique 89 Aftercare 92 Advantages and complications 92 Pelvic limb bandages, casts, and splints 92 Basic soft padded limb bandage 92 Basic pelvic limb splint 93 Basic pelvic limb cast 93 Indications 93 Technique 93 Aftercare 99 Advantages and complications 99 Ehmer sling 100 Indications 100 Technique 100 Aftercare 104 Advantages and complications 104 90/90 sling 104 Indications 104 Technique 105 Aftercare 108 Advantages and complications 108 Tie-over bandage 108 Indications 108 Technique 108 Aftercare 108 Advantages and complications 109 Chapter 5 – Restraint 111 Elizabethan collar 111 Plastic wrap-around collar 113 Towel collar 113 Muzzles 114 Side braces 114 Topical chemical deterrents 118 Electronic devices 119 Suggested Reading 121 Index 123

About the Author :
Steven Swaim, DVM, is a professor emeritus at Auburn University. Walter Renberg, DVM, DACVS, is an associate professor at Kansas State University Kathy Shike, RVT, is a veterinary technician supervisor at Kansas State University.

Review :
“The real mainstay of this book comes in educating those inexperienced in bandage application and I believe it to be indispensable to those studying towards a veterinary nursing or veterinary undergraduate degree.”  (VN Times Veterinary Nursing Times, 1 October 2012) "This book is a must have for veterinary nurses and technicians." (Tomorrow's Vets, 1 January 2012)   "The chapter on extremity bandaging is excellent . . . Also illustrated are body, hip, shoulder, abdomen, and head bandages. All of them clever and innovative by their design." (Vin Book Reviews, 2011) "This is a concise and complete bandaging reference for small animal practitioners. The figures and descriptions provide clear and easy to understand instructions on bandaging, casting, and splinting the small animal patient. In addition to clear written descriptions, the book contains excellent quality step-by-step photographic depictions of bandage placement. When compared to surgery books such as the Textbook of Small Animal Surgery, 3rd edition Slatter (Elsevier, 2003), or Small Animal Surgery, 3rd edition, Fossum et al. (Elsevier, 2007), this one provides better stepwise instruction on use of both simple and more complex bandages. The quality of its photographic instructions is far superior to that of these other books." (Doody's Reviews, May 2011)