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  Discussion on Help - How do you keep the bandage dry?
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 15, 1999 - 4:41 pm:

Can anyone give me advice on how to keep a bandaged leg dry. My foal has a bad cut to his hind leg that is being dressed by the vet weekly. The vet says he can go out if the bandage is kept dry. Obviously I don't turn him out if it is actually raining and I put clingfilm over the bandaged area followed by a bin bag secured by electrical tape over the lot. As I work once he is out I cannot allways go and get him in straight away if it rains and the bandage does tend to get damp if he rolls etc. Can anyone advise me? I don't really want to leave him in as he gets bored and has started chewing the edges in his stable. Any ideas would be great as he is likely to be bandaged for 2 or 3 months more - thanks! Claire:-}

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 15, 1999 - 4:49 pm:

I just had to wrap my weanlings leg for a period of time and after applying any medications I needed, I used some gauze wrap and then a disposable diaper. On top of that I used vet wrap. I had no problem keeping it dry that way. I just bought the cheapest diapers I could find.

Jim

Posted on Thursday, Dec 16, 1999 - 7:45 am:

Hello Claire,
What part of the leg are you having to bandage?
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Dec 16, 1999 - 1:05 pm:

The actual injury is just below the hock on his left hind. The bandage is all done by the vet and extends from above the hock right down to the top of the hoof so it is quite a large area to try and keep dry and out of the mud!! The outer of the bandage applied by the vet is like pink sticky plaster about 4 inches wide with cotton wool and gamgee underneath so it gets wet quite readily.
Claire :-}

Posted on Friday, Dec 17, 1999 - 6:25 am:

Hmmm, well with a bandage that extends to the hoof I recommend you just do not allow the horse access to a wet environment. Not only rain but a wet ground will cause this type bandage to get wet. You can try to tape a plastic bag over the distal part to help keep it from getting wet but this type thing rarely works if the ground is really wet. Keep a couple of rolls of Vet-wrap or Elasticom around to repair the bandage where he chews on it.
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 1999 - 3:38 am:

Thanks - trouble is he is only a baby and is getting into bad habits through being in the stable too long. He is chewing the exposed surfaces etc and box walking a bit, so I want him out if pos to stop these geting into life long vices!
Claire :-}

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 1999 - 4:16 pm:

ive done this with my babies ....apply medication followed by sheet cotton followed with plastic wrap ...kitchen style followed by vet wrap secured with tape put on in oppisite direction of bandage apply pepper solution to wrap ...change daily if this dont work just keep him in and try to walk him alot if he gets infected he will be in anyway so do a good job now good luck
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