Page 230 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

214 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

bag is slipped on the limb and the roll gauze is used to
tighten the bag around the limb. These are applied only
for trips outside and are taken off as soon as possible to
avoid impairing circulation. If the bandage is damaged
in some way alert the veterinarian or technician.
Multiple bandage changes can irritate the skin as the
adhesive tape is removed. To ease removal of the tape an
adhesive tape remover product is recommended. Soak a
cotton ball or gauze sponge with the remover and apply
liberally to the tape surface. Allow it to sit for a minute or
two and then slowly peel back the tape from the skin.
A chewed bandage can indicate that it is uncomfort-
able, but usually it is because animals don’t like bandages.
An Elizabethan collar or basket muzzle or a spray like
bitter apple can be applied to prevent chewing. This is to
not only prevent the animal from destroying the bandage,
but to prevent possible ingestion of the bandaging mate-
rials which can create a whole other set of problems!

FIGURE 11.48 Damage caused by a bandage applied too tightly. Bandage Removal

4. Using a self‐adhesive product, apply the tertiary After the veterinarian has ruled a bandage is ready for
layer over the entire secondary layer and stirrups removal the veterinary assistant may assist or take the
(Figure 11.47d). bandage off. A bandage scissor is used by slipping the
5. Applying adhesive tape half on the bandage and blade with the blunt wedge adjacent to the skin and
half on the patient’s skin/hair to secure the ban- under all the layers or each layer individually of the ban-
dage to the leg. Note that you can still see the toes dage. A slow steady snip and inching forward until the
with the bandage which facilitates checking to make bandage is cut off enough to slip off the end of a limb or
sure the bandage isn’t too tight (Figure 11.47e). to come completely apart.

Indications that a bandage is on too tight include swell-
ing, discoloration, and cooling of the body parts distal to Emergency Support
the bandage. Figure 11.48 shows the damage done to a
paw from a bandage that was not correctly wrapped or Unfortunately, emergencies are a fact of life in every
checked for tightness. In this case the secondary layer veterinary facility. The arrival of patients with from acute
was not applied properly. The gauze was either twisted or injuries, hemorrhage, respiratory or cardiac distress,
it slipped during application. The veterinarian or techni- shock, or poisoning necessitates life‐saving measures.
cian will most likely apply the bandage, but you can assist Staff members need to work as a team under the leader-
by keeping the patient still, helping to hold the bandage ship of the veterinarian if these life‐saving measures are
material in place, and watching for any signs of bandage to be successful.
failure.
While the veterinarian and technician are providing
the hands‐on care, the ancillary staff moves into action.
Bandage Failure The veterinary assistant is responsible for supplying
emergency equipment and drugs to the patient treatment
area and providing supplementary support to the team.
Bandage failure is slipping, weeping, or soaked bandage To be effective, the assistant must:
from drainage, a wet bandage from the environment, or
a chewed upon bandage. It is important to keep ban- 1. Know where the emergency station is and where the
dages dry as tissue maceration occurs and the under- crash cart or kit is stored.
laying tissue becomes fragile. A method of preventing 2. Retrieve general supplies as needed if kit supply is
bandages on limbs from getting wet is to place an empty used up.
IV bag over the limb. The end with the drip set connec- 3. Gather gurney, warming blankets, towels, IV stands,
tor is cut off, then use a scissors to poke holes around the monitoring equipment, and other gear as requested
top. Tear off a length of gauze roll that will fit around the by the team.
leg with some extra to use as a tie. The gauze is threaded 4. Provide patient restraint, positioning, and moving as
in and out of each hole to create a drawstring bag. The needed.