Home Care of a Splint

1. Above all, keep the splint dry. When your pet is outdoors for short times, place a plastic bag over the entire splint and tape it with masking tape so that no water gets inside. Remove the plastic bag when back inside. If the splint gets wet, it will need to be changed, within a couple of hours after getting wet.

2. Check the toes at the bottom of the splint daily. If they become swollen or cooler than the toes on the opposite leg, the splint will need to be checked that day by a veterinarian.

3. Limit your pet’s activity to indoors, and a small room if possible. This helps to prevent chafing and skin irritation from the splint. It also prevents the splint from breaking and needing to be changed sooner than your regularly scheduled appointment.

4. The pet should not bother the splint. If this occurs, apply an Elizabethan collar and call your veterinarian for an appointment to have the splint checked.

5. If the splint starts slipping, an appointment will be necessary to have the splint replaced. This is common as swelling in the leg comes down.

6. If the splint has an odor, it will need to be checked by your veterinarian that same day.

7. Weekly rechecks are extremely important. If you have difficulty keeping an appointment, call us as soon as possible to reschedule that appointment.

If you have any questions about your pet’s splint or any other aspect of your pet’s health, do not hesitate to contact us.