Dressings, bandages, and splints for wound management in dogs and cats.

New materials have allowed the role of the bandage to expand from passive protector to active participant in the wound healing process. By building a bandage that maintains a moist wound environment,the veterinarian uses the patient's own wound healing mechanisms to provide selective autolytic debridement, speed granulation and epithelialization, decrease infection, and increase patient comfort. A large variety of primary dressings are available to custom-make a bandage appropriate to each stage of wound healing. This article discusses the principles of moist wound healing, selection and application of primary dressings, special considerations for applying and changing bandages and splints, and prevention of bandage complications.