General Care and Nursing - Bandaging and restraint

Bandage muzzle - A muzzle made of gauze bandage is used when a dog may be tempted to bite from right or pain during the trimming of nails, the treatment of wounds, or when in shock or hurt from an accident. The width of the guaze bandage, will depend on the length of the dog’s nose, but ordinarily the one-and-a-half or two-inch size will be correct, even if it has to be folded over for the shorter faces.

Depending on the size of the dog, cut a 24 or 36 inch long strip. With the ends of the bandage hanging down over the sides of the muzzle, place the centre over the nose. Bring the bandage down the muzzle under the chin, form a loop, and tie with a fairly loose knot, then bring the ends back on each side of the face behind the head and tie with a bow-knot. Adjust the bandage tightly enough to hold the jaws closed but not so tight as to make breathing uncomfortable. Put on a muzzle of this kind once in a while just for practice; it will teach you how to it, and your dog will learn not to mind it.

A bandage muzzle has many uses. If, for example, your dog has been struck by a car, he may be in such pain that he doesn’t recognize you and must be restrained before you can handle him.

Jacket Bandage - this bandage is used to hold throat compresses and politics in place, in pneumonia where chest rubbing may be indicated, and for drying up lactating females whose breasts have been doubled with camphorated oil. Such coverings are helpful when fresh air is important but when draft may be deadly. They also protect furniture and bedding from being smeared with slaves and oils.

Fit the jacket from belly to back, for the front legs cut two holes in a square or freshly laundered cloth which is brought up a around the throat and ribs, then sewn or taped across the back. A few minutes and a bit of ingenuity will produce a jacket that will be comfortable and reasonably wrinkle-free. The cold or pneumonia jacket is usually make of lightweight flannel, while one for greasy salves or dressings is made of cotton material.

Protective Collar – An Elizebethan collar is standard equipment to keep a dog from licking wounds, tearing off bandages, and biting sores or stitches. You can buy a prefabricated vinyl Elizabethan collar from most veterinary hospitals, or you can make your own by cutting a semicircular piece of heavy cardboard, the inner circumference fitted to the dog’s neck. Make it wide enough to reach about to the tip of the muzzle in the two straight sides puncture eyelets and through the eyelets run a cord or shoelace to Pull the collar together. When tied, it looks something like a lampshade worn around the neck. It is very effective and, being light in weight, rarely annoys the dog. In fact, most dogs feel “ dressed up” in it and wear it proudly.

Nail Tapping It’s a good idea to tape the nails of dogs suffering from eye disease or injury to prevent further tearing of the eye by the upper inside toe nail. Even when nail is trimmed and filed, it can scratch the eye because the dog uses considerable force as he paws it.

The toe nail on the same side as the injured eye is the one that does the damage. With surgical or first-aid tape, wrap this paw completely, covering the nail, keep the tape on until sometimes after the dye has returned to normal. Boots can be purchased for the same purpose; here all the nails are covered, which is very good in cases of eczema and skin infections that cause constant scratching.