In treating open skin wounds in small animals, one of the most important decisions you make is bandage selection. It’s easy to think of bandaging as a routine step after wound preparation, but in reality, the bandage plays an active role in how the wound heals. The right bandage can help debride, control infection, manage exudate, and protect developing tissue. The wrong bandage — or the right bandage used at the wrong time — can delay healing and create new problems.
Over the years, I’ve found that many clinicians don’t struggle with the concept of wound management as much as they struggle with choosing the most appropriate bandage for the situation at hand. There are many options available, and it’s not always obvious which one to use — especially in the early stages of wound care.
The goal of this post (Part 1) is to provide a simple, practical reference to commonly used bandage types for open wounds. This is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather a guide you can quickly review and apply in everyday practice. Stay tuned for Part 2 which will address in which wound phase to use these bandage types.
Table: Bandage Types and Indications
Wet-to-Dry Bandage – Adherent, provides mechanical debridement of necrotic tissue; used in contaminated or necrotic wounds early in management.
Tie-Over Bandage – Provides a stable dressing in difficult locations such as the axilla, groin, and head; useful for a variety of bandage primary layers. (See here for more information)
Non-Adherent Contact Layer (e.g., Adaptic Touch) – Protects granulation tissue; used for fresh wounds not needing debridement, graft beds, and partial-thickness injuries. (See here for more information)
Sugar or Honey Dressings – Bactericidal, absorbent, non-adherent; used in infected wounds to reduce bacterial load and support early granulation. (See here for more information)
Petroleum-Impregnated Gauze – Used on well developed granulation tissue that is clean and not infected, non-adherent. (See here for more information)
Telfa Pad – Non-adherent, minimally absorbent; used for free skin grafts or closed incisions (not used on open wounds).
Topical Antibiotic Ointment – Protect closed incisions and small superficial wounds; not a substitute for systemic therapy in deep infections.
Successful wound management depends not only on choosing the right bandage, but on understanding what that bandage is meant to accomplish. Each layer has a purpose, and using them thoughtfully can make the difference between delayed healing and an efficient, uncomplicated recovery.
In Part 2, we’ll take the next step—matching bandage selection to the phase of wound healing, so you can make practical, case-based decisions in real time.
The concepts and tables presented here are adapted from our upcoming textbook on small animal soft tissue surgery, currently in development as a practical, quick-reference resource for clinicians.
