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If your cat has had a bandage applied at our hospital, please read the following information on bandage care:

A bandage is applied to help provide stability, keep wounds clean and dry, and to stop your cat licking at the wound. Bandages can be very helpful to assist with wound healing and require special care and management at home.

Bandages should be changed regularly by your vet, depending on the type of wound present with most wounds needing to be redressed every second to third day. Poulticed wounds will require similar redressing at more frequent intervals.

When a wound is redressed at the hospital, it is cleaned and treated before a new dressing is applied. Your veterinary surgeon will check the wound closely to ensure that they are happy with your cat’s progress and that everything is healing. You can expect that the the bandage will need to be changed a number of times during a normal healing process. This will be dependent on how quickly the wound is healing.

Please note that rebandaging will incur a fee that will usually include the cost of a revisit consultation and a charge for the dressings used in the bandage.

Common Problems Associated with Bandages:

Water

It is important to keep the bandage dry to prevent moisture damage to the underlying skin. If the bandage does get wet, please return your cat to the hospital as soon as possible to prevent further damage occurring to the skin.

Swelling

Swelling occurs commonly at the top and bottom of bandages and you should check these areas daily. Sand and cat litter can also get down between the skin and the bandage leading to rubbing and discomfort. If rubbing occurs, ulcers can develop and serum (tissue fluid) accumulates in the bandage causing it to smell. If you notice a smell coming fro your cat’s bandage or a swelling develops please return to the hospital as soon as possible.

Slipping

The bandage may slip or fall off if your cat chews or scratches at it. If your cat is very active, please ensure to keep them confined and rested. Some cats may require an Elizabethan collar to be fitted to prevent them chewing the bandage. If your cat has not been interested in chewing at his/her bandage but then suddenly begins gnawing at it, please call us immediately as this often means ulcers or rub sores are forming under the dressing and it needs to be changed promptly.

Good luck with the management of your cat’s bandage, and please don’t hesitate to call us if you have any concerns or questions.