Veterinary tools and equipment are a little more complicated than their fairly simple title might suggest. There are many different types and brands, and they can be new to all of them every year!
This can be a little frustrating at times, as some of them look exactly alike, making it hard to know which one you have! Most of them are black or dark-colored, making it easy to mistake one for the other.
There are many reasons to have extra equipment or tools available for your dog, such as when a surgery is rushed and someone doesn’t have time to purchase an instrumentation kit from the vet office. Or if you take your dog everywhere, and she needs protection from medical procedures or impact on quality of life, then a full set of instruments is needed!
This article will go over some types of instruments and how they are used, giving some tips on how to make your set up yourself so that you do not need additional supplies.
Contents:
Tweezers
Tweezers are one of the most common veterinary tools. They are usually made out of wood or plastic and come in various lengths.
They allow you to remove tiny pieces of objects from our bodies, so it is important you have them. Tweezers can be used as a precision tool to help you remove the smallest pieces of something.
Some tweezers are double-edged, making it more difficult to handle. If your veterinarian does not have a tweezer, you can make your own by using two sharpened pencils connected by a cloth!
Veterinary-grade tweezers are made of metal and are accurate at removing dirt, protein, and other small proteins from animals.
Forceps
A forceps is a long, thin tool that are normally used to remove small items from another animals mouth. These tools are usually placed inside the animals mouth, around the front or back edge.
When attempting to take something such as a treat or chew, the animal must first brush its teeth with the forceps. Then, the animal must place its muzzle on the forceps and gently guide it into its mouth.
The animal must then continue to hold onto the forceps until it has got what it wants! It may take several tries before you get the hang of it, however!
You can buy many different kinds of forceps, some being more modern with computer-assisted guided extraction (CGE) features. These have features such as self-cleaning and guided retraction capabilities.
Knives
Having a knife handy is a must for every vet. While most vets do not need a knife for everyday use, having one available can help save a life!
While most doctors and medical professionals have a doctor’s or medical professional’s favorite type of knife,hens, or veterinary equipment, the average person does not.
The majority of people know how to use the kitchen knife in order to prepare their food, but if you wanted to cut something else such as a medication, you would need the proper tool.
Unfortunately, some tools are difficult to find. Some are even sold away from your veterinarian’s office.
Blades
Choosing a veterinarian’s blade is a critical part of the grooming equipment list. You will also need a blade for yourself! Many experts suggest that you keep your current blade until it wears out, then purchase a new one. You can also rent or buy from the internet, from the nearest veterinary school library, or from your local vet store.
The right blade for the job will make a difference in how your dog looks and feels. A large proportion of dogs spend most of their time cleaning themselves, so having a short, sharp blade is an asset.
Dogs that feel comfortable with you may opt to use an easier-to-use blade. If you have strong muscles on your dog to hold the back leg up, then a harder-tough-looking blade may be better suited to them.
Lastly, dogs that are nervous or shy may prefer a softer piece of meatalife.
Syringes
A syringe is a handy tool that can save your life every so often. While not every office or doctor’s office has a syringe, you can bet that at least one doctor’s office has a Pethey’s needle available for use in veterinary medicine.
Many Veterinary Schools now have a supply of Petheys Needle, usually in a kit or package. Some offer advanced training courses to use the needle in your patients, giving you more tools to help achieve your goals.
The point is, if you ever need one, you have access to one and can use it on the smallest of animals. Most experts recommend using the thicker end for larger animals as they may be more likely to break through the skin.
To learn more about how to use the Pethey’s needle, watch this video from Dr. Marissa Kramer: https://www.youtube.
Wires
A wire is probably one of the most ubiquitous materials in the world of veterinary technology. Often, you will see wires used in prosthetics and orthotics, and yet very little guidance can be found regarding them.
Wire materials come in many sizes and shapes, making it hard to determine what type you need. Some need thinner wire due to doctors recommendations or patients requests. Others need thicker wire to help correct a kink or curvature in a limb. Still others require a transitional material like foam or cloth that blends into the shape of a limb.
Some wires are colour coded as blue, grey, orange or white to help with patient information (see bullet point).
Gauze pads
A gauze pad is the most common medical item a pet owner will have. It is a square of cloth that is about the size of a credit card and has tiny holes in it. These holes are used to apply medicine or treatment.
Gauze pads are usually placed inside or over an area to protect it from damage during nursing or cleaning, which makes it very retrievable. When empty, they can be put in a sterilizing bag and stored until needed.
When applied, the gauze pad’s edges are rolled up so they do not get cut when putting something onto an area of concern. This helps to prevent any bleeding or stain on clothing or bedding because ofuckyblood.
Many veterinarians recommend placing a new gauze pad every day to keep your pet comfortable and safe.
Rolled gauze bandages
A rolled gauze bandage is one of the oldest veterinary equipment tools. It was originally called a flake bandage and was made of fine cotton material rolled into a tube and then bound with tape or another material.
This is the same as the modern rolling gauze bandages, except these have been rolled into a tube and then taped together to create one piece of material. This makes it much more difficult to get off while treating a patient, which is important because that is what you are trying to do with this device.
When applying an anti-inflammatory like an antibiotic or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) it is important to be sure the correct dose is being administered. A rolled gauge can help prevent this from happening!
These devices are also very useful for treating animals with arthritis or suspected arthritis.