staples

[beast 1,884]

ok at the risk of ridicule, in all the years i've had dogs I've never learned to use a skin stapler. have always just gone to the vet. whats the best way to learn, can i simply copy what i have seen the vet doing, or are the vets doing subtle things which perhaps i'm n ot noticing? does anybody run courses or anything?

[dymented 2,220]

video on how to use one bud

http://youtu.be/_XbxHVu4Oqc

[skycat 6,174]

That is not a very good video at all. When stapling a live animal, as opposed to a pig's trotter, you have to remember that a dog's skin is much, much thinner. The other thing to remember is to pinch the two edges of the wound together, pulling them up, away from the flesh. If you put staples direct on to the dog's leg, as he is doing in the video, you will punch the staple into the tissue beneath the skin, which hurts like hell, and risks causing infection. When a vet sutures or staples, they always pull the skin up, away from the body, or leg; that way they are not punching the staple into the tissue beneath. the best thing to practice on is a dead plucked chicken, which although having much thinner skin that a dog, does at least give you the chance to mess around and put staples into something already dead.

 

Remember: the two edges of the wound should be held together like two pieces of material, with the cut edges facing upwards and held together between your finger and thumb, pulled away from the body or leg. It looks odd, but don't worry, as soon as you let go of the two edges of skin, they will settle back down into the position the staple allows them, which may be slightly raised, but ensures that the staple won't fall out, and that there is no gap between the two edges. Hope this makes sense.

 

I don't have any photos of the actual stapling but here's a photo of staples inserted correctly, and I did hold the two edges of the wound together, with the edges of the cut facing upwards away from the leg. You can see how despite this, the stapled skin is in the correct position.

 

I wouldn't wish any more injuries on my dogs, but if they do need stapling again in the near future, I'll try and take photos of the actual procedure.

[beast 1,884]

thank you very much. that seems to be much as i have watched my vet do in the past. i'm still not sure i would have the confidence to try myself though.................