Lesson 2 – Wound Care & Bandaging

1. Lesson 2 – Wound Care & Bandaging Unit – Veterinary Assisting II

2. 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.

3. Stages of Wound Healing • Inflammatory Phase • Immediately after wound • Blood begins to clot • Debridement Phase • 6 hours after wound • White blood cells cause puss • Repair Phase • Fibroblast form scar tissue (bright red because capillaries moving in) • 3-4 days after wound • Maturation Phase • Scar tissue gains strength

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

5. Care of Fresh Wound 1st – Lavaging – pump saline solution into wound 2nd – Debridement – remove hair and lube up 3rd – Wound Closure

6. 4 Classifications of Wounds • Clean Wound • Recent wound, low bacterial contamination • Clean-Contaminated Wound • Started as clean, but too much time expired • Contaminated Wound • Has bacteria and debris • Clean before closing • Infected Wound • Abscess • Openly drained

7. 4 Methods of Wound Closure • Primary Wound Closure • Use suture within 6 hours (Golden Period) • Clean Wounds • Delayed Primary Closure • Excess debridement • Second Intention Healing • Heal itself • Secondary Closure (third intention healing) • Suture after debridement

8. Bandaging • Protects wound • Restricts movement • Restricts bleeding • Primary Layer • Support and sterile gauze pad • Secondary Layer • Padding • Tertiary Layer • Protection – conform to animal

9. Chest / Abdominal Bandages • Not too much pressure

10. 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

11. Other Bandages • Modified Thomas Splint • Aluminum rods - support • Ehmer Sling • For hip diplacement • Velpeau Sling • Shoulder fractures • Hobbles • Pelvic Fractures