How to Keep a Bandage on Livestock's Legs

When an animal gets wounded, it is sometimes necessary to cover the wound with a bandage. When it comes to livestock, this can be a real challenge if the wound is on a leg. Since livestock are so mobile, keeping any kind of covering on a leg wound is tricky at best.

Things You'll Need

  • Ace Bandage
  • Gauze Pads
  • Gauze Bandage/Strips
  • Cotton Padding
  • Duct Tape
  • Antiseptic Ointment
Show More

Instructions

  1. Keeping a bandage on livestock's legs.

    • 1

      Wash and dry the wound thoroughly. The wound cannot be successfully wrapped until the hair above and below is dry.

    • 2

      Apply ointment to the wound. Use enough to cover the wound but not so much it will goop up all the hair above and below the wound.

    • 3

      Press a large piece of gauze bandage to the wound -- enough to completely cover the wound. By pressing it lightly against the wound, the gauze will stick and free your hands up for the wrapping part.

    • 4

      Wrap the leg in two inches of cotton padding. This helps to make sure that you do not wrap the leg too tight and cut off circulation. Make sure the padding goes two inches above and two inches below the leg wound.

    • 5

      Starting two inches below the bottom of the cotton padding, begin wrapping the leg with your gauze strips. Work the roll up until the leg is covered all the way up to a point two inches above the last of the cotton padding.

    • 6

      Starting at the bottom of the gauze wrappings, use your ACE bandage in the same manner you used the gauze strips. Wrap from the bottom up, and stop at the same spot as you did with the gauze strips.

    • 7

      Attach the duct tape to the bottom of the bandage and wrap it completely around the leg and the bandage, then continue to wrap it to one inch above or below the dressing - attaching it to the skin and fur of the animal. This will keep the bandage from slipping, and as long as you don't change the dressing every day, it will not hurt the skin.