Ensure the bandage is not too tight
If possible, keep your dog’s toes exposed. This will allow you to check for swelling that would indicate that the circulation of your dog’s paw is being cut off. Normally the two middle toenails of a dog’s foot are close together. If you notice them spreading apart, this is a sign of swelling. You should also check the exposed toes for discoloration or coolness, both of which can also indicate the bandage is too tight.
Ensure that you can fit one to two fingers into the top of the bandage. This is a good way to check that the bandage is tight enough to stay up but not so tight that it will cut off circulation. Especially if your dog’s toes need to be covered by the bandage, this is a great way to assess bandage tightness.
Accidentally making the bandage too tight is the most dangerous bandaging mistake you can make. In some cases, dogs have even lost toes or a limb to a too-tight bandage. So I cannot emphasize enough the importance of carefully monitoring your dog’s foot to ensure the bandage is not too tight.
How to wrap a dog’s paw
Before wrapping your dog’s paw, you should always assess your dog and the injury. If your dog’s injury is severe (i.e. deep cuts, profuse bleeding, potential for broken bones, large areas of skin lost, etc.), please contact the closest veterinarian immediately for an emergency vet visit.
Also, if your dog is very painful, it would be best to have someone help you with the bandage. Even the sweetest and most well-trained dogs can be reactive when they are in pain.
If you decide it is safe for you to bandage your dog’s paw, you can now follow these steps:
Use a clean cloth to gently clean the affected area. Often moistening a washcloth with warm water will work well. However, if you think there are debris and bacteria in your dog’s wound, you may also want to use mild soap, chlorohexidine scrub, dilute chlorohexidine solution, betadine (i.e. povidone iodine) scrub, or dilute betadine solution to disinfect the wound.
After cleaning the injured area, ensure that it is dry before you start placing the bandage. It is important not to trap moisture in the bandage, because this could cause further infection and irritation.
Watch for Signs the Bandage Is Too Tight
A loose bandage will slip off, which makes it tempting to create a firm bandage. However, cutting off circulation to the area carries potentially serious consequences. Signs a dressing is too tight include:
If you are uncertain, it is far better to remove the bandage and start again, than risk impaired circulation and gangrene.
Bandaging a Paw
In this article on tending to a dog paw injury, you’ll learn: (1) The signs of a dog paw injury (2) When to call a vet (3) What you can do at home(4) What you can do when an injury occurs while hiking(5) The signs of an infection(6) When stitches are needed(7) How to help your dog recover