How to Wrap a Dressing Around a Dog's Leg

Dressings or bandages often are used in wound care to promote circulation and prevent infection to a wound. You must change dressings often to allow drainage of fluids and apply fresh ointment. You also may need to apply a dressing or bandage to stabilize a fracture temporarily if you are far from home and you cannot get the dog to the veterinarian immediately. It is a good idea to have a first aid kit for your dog and to take it with you when traveling with your dog.

Things You'll Need

  • Gauze pads
  • Rolls of cotton and gauze
  • Adhesive tape
  • Ointment (if needed)
  • Household sticky tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wash your hands and cleanse the edges of the wound, if present, with a damp piece of gauze. Irrigate the wound with clean tap water. Clean older wounds that have scabbed over with antibacterial soap and blot dry. After cleansing the wound, apply the appropriate ointment as directed by your veterinarian and place several sterile gauze pads over the wound.

    • 2

      Wrap two layers of cotton roll around the leg. If you are using the bandage to stabilize a fracture, you must include the joint above and below the fracture. If the fracture is in the humerus or femur, do not bandage as it can make the fracture worse.

    • 3

      Place two layers of stretch gauze over the roll cotton. Make sure it is snug but not overly tight or it might impede circulation.

    • 4

      Wrap two layers of first aid adhesive tape around the leg but be careful so that the tape does not stick to the hair. Flex the knee and foot several times to ensure that the bandage is not too tight.

    • 5

      Tape one layer of household sticky tape on the top of the bandage to secure it to the dog.

    • 6

      Check the bandage every few hours to be sure that it is not impeding circulation from being too tight. Loosen the bandage if there is any swelling at the edge of the bandage.