Lesson 2 – Wound Care & BandagingUnit – Veterinary Assisting II

Client….."I woke up one morning and my dog Nora looked like she had a baseball inside her neck on the right side. There were no marks at all and all we could figure was maybe a spider bit her. I took her to the vet and they lanced it and put in a drain. She stayed the night at the hospital and came home the next day.

Stages of Wound Healing1. Inflammatory Phase• Immediately after wound• Blood begins to clot

2. Debridement Phase• 6 hours after wound• White blood cells cause puss

3. Repair Phase• Fibroblast form scar tissue (bright red because capillaries moving in)• 3-4 days after wound

4. Maturation Phase• Scar tissue gains strength

Factors Affecting Wound Healing• Old Age• Poor Nutrition• Contamination• Infection

Care of Fresh Wound

1st – Lavaging – pump saline solution into wound

2nd – Debridement – remove hair and lube up

3rd – Wound Closure

4 Classifications of Wounds1. Clean Wound• Recent wound, low bacterial contamination

2. Clean-Contaminated Wound• Started as clean, but too much time expired

3. Contaminated Wound• Has bacteria and debris• Clean before closing

4. Infected Wound• Abscess• Openly drained

4 Methods of Wound Closure

1. Primary Wound Closure• Use suture within 6 hours (Golden Period)• Clean Wounds

2. Delayed Primary Closure• Excess debridement

3. Second Intention Healing• Heal itself

4. Secondary Closure (third intention healing)• Suture after debridement

Bandaging• Protects wound• Restricts movement• Restricts bleeding

• Primary Layer• Support and sterile gauze pad

• Secondary Layer• Padding

• Tertiary Layer• Protection – conform to animal

Chest / Abdominal Bandages• Not too much pressure

Limb Bandages and Splints• Tight, but not too tight• Can lead to swelling• Odor• Coldness on tissue

• Leave 2 toes open to check circulation• Use Chew Guard spray to prevent licking• Elizabethan Collar

• Robert Jones Bandage• Use cotton rolls and roll gauze• Used to immobilize limbs

Other Bandages• Modified Thomas Splint• Aluminum rods - support

• Ehmer Sling• For hip diplacement

• Velpeau Sling• Shoulder fractures

• Hobbles• Pelvic Fractures