Answer: Whether a wound is produced accidently or following surgery, there a number of reasons for dressing or bandaging it:
1 to stop any bleeding by applying pressure (pressure bandage), though this is usually only temporary measure.
2 To prevent the wound becoming contaminated by bacteria and other micro-organisms, inert materials such as grit, dirt, loose hair, and even in hot weather, by blowflies laying their eggs in the wound. These eggs will later hatch into maggots which will feed on the cat’s flesh; this is particularly likely to occur in old and debilitated animals.
3 To prevent the cat interfering with the wound. Repeated licking will delay healing, may introduce infection and may give rise to a thick mass of shiny tissue, a lick granuloma. Cats may even remove stitches placed in the skin by betting, through the suture material and pulling with their teeth. This can cause the edges of the wound to pull a part before healing is complete (wound breakdown).
4 To provide support, for instance, where there is also sprain or strain, or where there may be undue tension on surgical stitches. In cats with fractures the bandages may hold supporting splint in place.
5 To immobilize a part of the body. This will prevent further damage which could be caused by the cat putting weight on to a wounded limb, dragging paralysed limb or banging a damaged tail.
In general, wounds do seem to heal faster if they can be kept open to the air rather then covered. However this presupposes that some other way can be found to deal with the problems described above. Unfortunately, in many cases some from of dressing is essential; the extensive wounds caused by burns, for example, are almost certain to become infected if they are exposed.
The disadvantage of wound dressing is that they may stick to the wound surface. They can also become wet and then rub and chafe the wound. Both of these occurrences will delay healing. Dressing cab be wetted by the serum which inevitable exude from the wounds, by exposure to rain, dew on the ground, or puddles, and even by excessive licking or sweating. Serums, a discharge from a wound, can be absorbed by surrounding it with a lot of cotton wool or similar material, but this can make the wound very hot and irritating. If it is possible for the wound to be left open, the liquid will evaporate leaving the wound dry.
Some type of wound are best never bandaged, mainly infected wounds with small openings. These include the frequently-encountered punctured wounds caused by other cat’s bites, or discharging channels from abscesses. Such wounds should be left open for draining and regular treatment. Other small wounds, for example those of the spaying operation, are not usually dressed.
It may sometimes be necessary to fit an ‘Elizabethan’ collar to prevent the cat from interfering with an exposed wound.
