Do dogs ever get fitted with plaster casts?
Posted by Dog Supplies Advice in Dog Supplies Q&A, Dog Supplies Tips, tags: Diseases, Dog, Dog Advice, dog care, Dog Diseases, Dog Healths, Dog Operations, dog Q&A, dog supplies, dog supplies advice, Operations, Pet SuppliesDo dogs ever get fitted with plaster casts?
Yes, fractures of the limbs below the elbow joint in the front limb and the stifle joint in the hind limb can be effectively treated with casts and splints. However, if plaster casts are applied too tightly they can cause pressure sores where they press on bony prominences and in extreme cases may lead to gangrene; if too loose they will not hold the bones together for healing to take place and may even slip off. They can also become soggy if allowed to get wet and the dog may chew at them. In recent years a number of materials which are lighter, easier to apply and more hard-wearing than Plaster of Paris have been introduced. These include fibreglass tape, plastic – as sheets or tape (Hexcelite) – and polyurethane (Neofrakt), which is also used to give durability to men’s shirts. Despite their advantages, the newer materials have the major disadvantage of being two or three times more expensive.
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