Seeing your dog with a cast or splint on makes you sad just thinking about it. Whether your dog fell off the couch while trying to leap off or has had a more serious injury, you probably feel some combination of being nervous for them and “how do I keep them from moving?” It is a big change for both of you. You have gone from taking your dog to the park every day to figuring out how to keep your dog from getting the cast or splint dirty while letting them go to the bathroom. Don’t worry! With some extra attention during this time while you both adjust, learning The Cast Care Chronicles: Your Complete Guide to Caring for Your Pet’s Cast or Splint will be easy. If you have the patience to wait for it and put forth some effort every day, your dog will heal very quickly and as comfortably as possible.
The Golden Rules of Cast Maintenance
A cast or splint is an amazing piece of equipment. Casts and splints are designed to ensure that bones and joints are held in optimal positions during the healing process so that they heal correctly. If either tool becomes damaged or out of position, the healing process stops. Here are your top 3 rules:
- Keep it Bone Dry: One of the worst things that can happen to a cast is exposing it to moisture. Your skin can become infected with dermatitis (severe skin irritation) or even experience tissue necrosis (death) within just hours after getting your cast wet. If you need to go outside for a “business trip,” please ensure that your cast is covered by a temporary waterproof booty or heavy-duty plastic bag, secured with a loose rubber band. After you finish your trip, please remove the cover to let the area breathe as soon as you return home.
- Limit Zoomies: This is the hardest part! Your pet will require “crate rest” or limited confinement to a small carpeted area due to the injury, as well as keeping him/her from using stairs, jumping on furniture, or running on slick hardwood floors where he/she can lose balance.
- The sniffer test: You should be doing the sniffer test daily, once or twice a day. The sniffer test also confirms that your cast does not have a distinct smell (so it is considered a healthy cast). If you detect an odor that is foul or musty in any way, it may indicate that there is an infection or sore developing underneath the cast.
Monitoring for Red Flags
Because pets are unable to tell whether their cast is too tight or if their toes are tingling, it is important for the owner to act as a detective. The following should be checked three times each day:
- Swelling: Check the toes that can be seen peeking out from the bottom of the cast. If they appear to be puffy, or if one foot appears to be cold or warm compared to the other three feet, the cast may be affecting blood circulation.
- Slippage: If the cast appears to have slipped down the leg, or if your pet is suddenly able to bend a joint that should remain immobilized by the cast, it is likely that the cast needs adjustment by a qualified veterinarian.
- Chafing and Sores: Check the skin around the top and bottom edges of the cast. If there is redness, rawness, or constant licking at either edge of the cast, this indicates that the cast does not fit properly.
Keeping Your Pet Entertained
Now that you can’t exercise, it’s time for you to think about what kinds of mental stimulation there are. Bored pets will make bad choices, such as chewing on their own splints, when they get bored.
- Puzzle Feeders Reduce Boredom: Feed your dog with a slow feeder or use a Kong stuffed with kibble so your dog can figure out how to get the kibble.
- New Smells Bring the Outdoors to Your Dog: For example, if you have gardening, let your dog sniff them, and then place new items in with them, like toys.
- The “E-Collar” will be very beneficial to you: It’s often referred to as a ‘Cone of Shame’ but in reality is a ‘Crown of Healing.’ If you aren’t there to supervise your pet 100% of the time, you need to keep the e-collar on them so that they can’t destroy the bandage.
Conclusion
Being injured takes time to heal, and while your pet may currently be making a “clop-clop sound” from the cast that is on their leg (which could be stressing out you), remember that this is just a temporary situation before they will finally be back to being completely healthy. The key to your pet healing; maintaining a good routine with three things; keep the cast dry, keep them quiet, and look for issues with their feet. If at any time, you notice that the cast has gotten wet, smells unusual or has slipped out of position, contact your veterinarian immediately. By providing prompt attention, you will hopefully be able to prevent any small issues from turning into major problems later. If there are any questions about your pet’s recovery, or if you wish to schedule a follow-up visit, we, the staff at AV Veterinary Center, will always be available to assist you and your pet on their road to recovery.
FAQs
My dog just stepped in a puddle and the bottom of the bandage is damp. Do I really need to come in, or can I just use a hair dryer?
We have all had times when we used the hair dryer at a low heat setting to dry off our pets after minor splashes to their coat, but this is a questionable practice. A hair dryer can create air movement that can dry your pet’s coat; however, if the inside of the bladder is wet, the moisture will remain on the skin… and create an environment for bacteria to grow. Sometimes you can tell by the feel of the bladder that it is wet or your pet will start licking the bladder; please call us immediately if this happens. Remember that it is much easier to replace a bandage that is creating issues for your pet than to treat him/her for an infection!
How am I supposed to keep my high-energy cat from jumping on the counters while wearing a splint?
This process can seem like an impossible mission, can’t it? The most effective management of your pet’s environment will aid you in limiting your pet’s ability to jump up (e.g., by placing them in “recovery spaces”, their bedrooms, or the laundry room). Imagine these spaces are functioning like a boutique hotel for them.
Is it normal for the cast to smell a little bit funky after a week?
Nope. There are different levels of “dog smell” and one could be at the lower end of the spectrum, but if you pick up a really stinky (smelly, nasty, sour) odor, that’s a problem and you should definitely have that checked out. Most likely, this is a sign of moisture getting trapped inside or possibly an ulcer due to a breakdown of skin due to constant rubbing against the cast. If you smell something that is going to make your nose wrinkle, go get them ASAP for a “sniff check”.
My pet’s toes look a little puffy. Should I be worried?
It is important to monitor for signs that your pet’s “pawsicles” may be too tight above their cast. If you don’t see that your pet’s toes are larger than usual or that the ends of the toes are cold to the touch, then your cast may have restricted blood flow to the toes. If you do pinch the toe pads/fingers and your pet does not retract or has a pale/blue toe, then it is time to contact us right away.
