Subscription
News
All News
25 October 2023
Meet our new table - FVF-83 on wheels
Anti-decubitus mattresses as part of post-operative rehabilitation
13 December 2022
This new article discusses one of the main ways to avoid bedsores in bedridden animals.
After many surgeries, animals have to follow 'bed rest' and it is very important to avoid the complications associated with it. Owners should be warned in advance about the dangers of bedsores and told about preventative measures.
The mechanism of bedsores in humans and animals is the same. The patient lies constantly, his body is pressed into the mattress. The parts of the body that feel the most pressure go numb: the blood circulation in them is worse. It starts as a slight redness, but gradually the epidermal tissue begins to break down. If left untreated, a gaping wound develops that requires surgery to treat. This means, among other things, that the rehabilitation time will increase by several weeks. During these weeks, the patient will be permanently immobilised, which means more pressure sores may develop.
Prevention of pressure sores in animals is quite simple: good hygiene, periodic posture changes, periodic light massage of the pressure parts of the body; soft, springy bedding. The last point in particular needs explanation.
If the vet doesn't spell it out, it's more likely that the owner will put his pet to recover on a normal cushion or allocate a soft chair to him. But such surfaces are totally unsuitable for bedridden patients. The chair may have a fluffy surface that irritates the skin; cushion fillings may become lumpy and uncomfortable to lie on. No matter how much care the owner takes, the risk of bedsores is very high.
A bedridden pet should preferably be recovered on a pressure sore mattress.
The advice should therefore be more specific: Make clear to the owner that a special anti-decubitus mattress is necessary. Anti-decubitus mattresses for animals are usually filled with expanded polystyrene granules, which do not bunch up. The granules also massage the pet: the more pressure is applied to the surface, the more intense the massage. In combination with other preventive measures, the mattress greatly reduces the possibility of bedsores, even if the patient is completely immobile.
Mattresses for animals should be more resistant to wear and tear than human mattresses. If a pet accidentally tears the mattress with claws or teeth, the filling will fall out and the mattress will lose its anti-bedsore properties. In our catalogue you will find mattresses made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), an extremely durable material with increased abrasion resistance.
FVF anti-bedsore mattresses
Don't forget to recommend our anti-bedsore mattresses to your patients, and let their recovery be as good and as fast as possible.