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Chapter 11 Clinical Techniques 211

FIGURE 11.43 Non‐adherent and adherent primary bandage material.

rotated to keep the exits open; if they should scab over the wound and the reason for the bandage. A wound
the fluid will accumulate under the skin causing a seroma. dressing is usually non‐adherent unless it requires
After a wound care procedure is completed there is debridement in which case adherent bandage material
usually a lot of mess to clean up. This is often the duty of is utilized (Figure 11.43). The secondary layer is made
the assistant. Clean the clipper! The blades are usually up of material that absorbs drainage or acts as a cushion
clogged with blood, pus, hair, or all three. Use a blade layer (Figure 11.44). Its additional purpose is to hold
wash if thick or dried on and spray disinfectant and lube the primary layer in place. It often consists of conform-
once cleaned. Take all the towels to the laundry and start ing gauze or padding, with or without a protective
a load. Clean out the prep sink and disinfect it and the layer for the skin (Figure 11.45). It can be thin or quite
table grate. Put all unused supplies away. If supplies are thick like cotton batting to immobilize a fractured
low be sure to alert the inventory manager. limb. The tertiary layer holds the bandage onto the
animal and is either an adhesive tape or a self‐adhesive
product (e.g., Vetrap™) (Figure 11.46). This product
Apply a Simple Bandage clings to itself and often does not need to be taped to
hold it in place. The tertiary layer can be water‐resis-
Bandaging is used to protect a wound from addition tant, but is not always. It must extend beyond the
injury or contamination. Bandages are also applied to border of the secondary layer and attach to the patient’s
immobilize a minor fracture. There are multitudes of skin or fur. A good guideline is that the adhesive tape
bandage materials and techniques used in veterinary should be 50% on the patient and 50% on the
medicine. Always check with the veterinarian or techni- secondary layer as it is applied.
cian as to the bandaging materials needed for the Bandages are applied taut enough to stay in place, but
individual patient. not so tight that circulation is impaired. A good rule of
Bandage variations depend on the purpose and the thumb to check a bandage is to see if you can slide two
area to which they are applied. Most bandages will have fingers, held flat against the skin, up to the first knuckle
three layers; the primary, secondary, and tertiary. The under the bandage before the tertiary layer is placed
primary bandage layer is the one closest to the skin then it isn’t too tight. If you can slide your fingers under
and the material used depends on the characteristic of the bandage past the first knuckle, then it is too loose.