The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Womble on September 04, 2015, 08:42:53 pm

Title: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Womble on September 04, 2015, 08:42:53 pm
Just for those of you who haven't come across it yet, Vetwrap (also Vetrap) is an elasticated bandage that sticks only to itself, and not to skin or hair.

(http://www.horsetown.com/images/P/311-0041.jpg)

Our poor footrot struck ewe has ended up with really raw toes which weren't getting better on their own because she had to walk on them (other types of lame hairy animal are available). However, after advice from [member=3792]Hellybee[/member] on another thread, we've started treating and bandaging her feet every couple of days, and it's really helping her.

I've also used it for a ewe who had a deep cut on her leg. It helped to keep the dirt out whilst the wound healed and needed no safety pins etc to hold it on. We just left it on her for a couple of days and then un-wrapped her and let her go.  Fantastic stuff, and definitely something we'll always be keeping in the sheepy toolbox  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Old Shep on September 04, 2015, 08:45:05 pm
I think you have to be careful it doesn't get wet otherwise it shrinks and can cut off circulation?
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Me on September 04, 2015, 09:15:47 pm
Its easily put on too tight, attach a little bit then unroll 9 inches or so, adjust the tension and then wrap it round and repeat to avoid feet falling off etc  ;)
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Carolswoolies on September 04, 2015, 09:29:40 pm
I agree!
Great help for dog recovering from leg wound.
Well worth keeping a supply.
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: SallyintNorth on September 05, 2015, 12:10:00 am
Our vet posted this pic on FB :

Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Hellybee on September 05, 2015, 04:25:26 am
Ahh glad she s showing some improvement, as the others have said, I think as long as you keep an eye on its adhesion,.  But of course you a good nursemaid :)
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Fleecewife on September 05, 2015, 12:31:00 pm
It's good for keeping an eye patch in place (gives the 'arr Jim lad' look), and as a pressure dressing after a badly broken horn in sheep. With that, you really have to watch you don't strangle the patient, if you pass the bandage under the throat.
It's also used in humans too.
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Rosemary on September 05, 2015, 01:36:03 pm
Useful for horses with hoof abcesses :(
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Brucklay on September 05, 2015, 02:27:15 pm
When our German Shepherd Sasha was on cancer treatment tablets she lost all the fur on her tail and would cut it from wagging against the corner of kitchen units - vet wrapped her tail - worked a treat  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Me on September 05, 2015, 04:34:49 pm
Useful for horses with hoof abcesses :(

Nope. Disagree. Can't beat a warm salt water soaked nappy surrounded by Ductape.
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Rosemary on September 05, 2015, 08:36:59 pm
Useful for horses with hoof abcesses :(

Nope. Disagree. Can't beat a warm salt water soaked nappy surrounded by Ductape.

Seriously? I use Animalintex but it's really expensive.
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: pharnorth on September 05, 2015, 08:57:28 pm
Yup my vet suggested nappy and duct tape too.  Trouble is with my youngest 21 (years). I have more Vetwrap than nappies. 
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Me on September 05, 2015, 09:04:16 pm
Useful for horses with hoof abcesses :(

Nope. Disagree. Can't beat a warm salt water soaked nappy surrounded by Ductape.

Seriously? I use Animalintex but it's really expensive.

Yes seriously. Would I joke about nappies? They come with sticky tape ready to attach. I've used this method many times. Used to carry a pack in the car. It had the double positive of A. Working and B. Making sure the mad horse women didn't want you back! 
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: ellied on September 06, 2015, 06:37:34 am
For abscess I use a small piece of lintex over the point only, wrapped with a third of a vetrap that touches the fetlock and a wrapped ductape boot shaped up over the coronet.  Snip down the front to remove but it lasts 24 hours or more  The nappy chemical gloop isn't something I want spread and they often burst at the toe so I stopped using them.

PS luminous vetrap is easier to spot for the final few days of dry wrap to keep a drained abscess hole from getting dirt in til the hoof horn seals over.
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Buttermilk on September 06, 2015, 06:40:01 am
Nappies are in my standard horse first aid kit, along with vetwrap.  The neighbours dog is sporting a very fetching cammo vetwrapped leg at themoment.  It suits him.
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Hellybee on September 06, 2015, 09:40:49 am
Cotton wool/gauze soaked plugs of stockholm tar also very good. 


I taught my old farrier about that one, didn't give me any discount though lol x
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Womble on September 06, 2015, 09:37:54 pm
Can't beat a warm salt water soaked nappy surrounded by Ductape.

Each to their own.

What do you use for abscesses though, Me?
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Hellybee on November 07, 2015, 03:57:37 pm
We very rarely have one, had a mare trimmed nowt spotted by farrier and very soon after she was showing extreme lameness and hotspot over the coronet.  Small pad of soaked and cooled animalintex or similar cheaper substitutes, gaffer plaster to hold it on top of hoof, coronet band.   Vet wrap up to top of hoof, then nappy using belly straps to hold in place whilst you fiddle with even more gaffer tape. Change every two days.   I had the foot rested on a puppy pee pad to keep it off floor whilst building the thing.  BUte was administered, until improvement was seen.



Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Fleecewife on November 07, 2015, 05:19:08 pm

Nothing whatsoever to do with Vetwrap, but disposable nappies should be in every driver's first aid kit.  They have allsorts of uses from covering bendy bits which are leaking that red stuff (knees, elbows, head, heels etc), to covering the eyes of one poor chap who had a windscreen disintegrate straight into his eyes - yeow!  (mind you, the 'accident' was entirely his silly fault..........
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on November 10, 2015, 12:38:52 pm
Could someone tell me how this thing works? and why haven't I heard of it before?
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: pgkevet on November 10, 2015, 01:05:23 pm
Could someone tell me how this thing works? and why haven't I heard of it before?

Vetrap? It's just a rubberised conforming bandage that will stick to itself but not the patient. Bandaging has become an easy (and can be 'sloppy and get away with it') excercise with conforming bandages. Few vets will have past exposure to linen bandages and the interesting ways of handling those such as the 'many tailed bandage'.

I was once asked to lecture at a dog club.. not wanting to waste my time arguing with breeders (who all know best) I took a large box of bandages along and demonstrated 'correctly' bandaging different bits of dogs - turned into a great evening (and sold a heap of product). there's a particular trick to bandaging feet that vets aren't taught..hard to describe and needs a video.. that produces a superb comfy foot bandage that looks neat and tidy and remains lightweight - and saves on bandage.
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Hellybee on November 10, 2015, 05:50:28 pm
I rememener when I was little and my mum was on the district, she d bring some home, you could only get it in brown then.
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Me on November 10, 2015, 05:54:31 pm
I rememener when I was little and my mum was on the district, she d bring some home, you could only get it in brown then.

"Shoplifter and Proud" ;)
Title: Re: Vetwrap is amazing stuff!!
Post by: Hellybee on November 10, 2015, 07:17:51 pm
her Sister knew she was horse mad and they used to let her have some unused returned dressings, tape, crepe etc.  like I said years ago, the stuff would ve been destroyed, so rather than that they were happy to let her use it up.  She d be mortified  Me if she heard you say that  :roflanim: