Porcupines

[blue04]

My cousin and uncle just got back from a trip to Montana, and they had multiple dogs get into porcupines. They had multiple dogs with quills in their faces. I've got no experience with porkys, so it got me to thinking "what would I do in that situation?".

I'm wondering what is the best way to deal with the aftermath. Is it best to go ahead and pull the quills out, or leave them alone and get the dog to the vet?

[Jay]

For me it depends on the quills and where they are. If the quills are just isolated to the nose, muzzle etc, I typically believe in pulling them myself. If quills are in the mouth or close to the eyes, a vet is the safest way to get them out. I typically keep a cone (Elizabethen?) collar in the truck for instances where I can't remove them myself, to keep the dog from pawing at them and breaking them off or driving them deeper.

[BirdDogger]

The quills have little strands inside that release themselves if the quill is cut prior to pulling on it. I carry needle nose pliers with wire cutters on them just for this purpose. Cut the quill in half with the wire cutter, then pull with the pliers. The quill will come right out.

[DrahtsundBraats]

I would not wait. Pull all the quills you can and if there are more down the throat or under the skin, get to a vet ASAP. I carry needle nose pliers, some duct tape (to immobilize the dog is needed) and acepromazine if absolutely necessary. In severe cases, make sure you feel under the skin on chest, legs and neck. Often dogs role on the ground before you get to them and push the quills right in under the skin. These have to be surgically removed, especially if they are in around the windpipe, throat, etc. Make sure to check between the toes and the bottom of the feet...some dogs paw at the porky or at their face and get quills embedded in the feet.

Ah..the joys of dog ownership...

[windswept]

The quills have little strands inside that release themselves if the quill is cut prior to pulling on it. I carry needle nose pliers with wire cutters on them just for this purpose. Cut the quill in half with the wire cutter, then pull with the pliers. The quill will come right out.

I've heard this before so I ran it by my vet in case I ever have to deal with the situation. My vet is an avid hunter and may even be an occassional poster on this forum. He said that there is nothing to this and the best plan is to simply pull them out. Cutting them first has no effect other than shortening the quill.

[seank]

I've pulled a lot of quills from dogs over the years. I cannot speak to strands inside that withdraw when cut. However, I will say that the quills have an air space inside them so that grabbing them with pliers or foreceps compresses one end and inflates the end still in your dogs flesh. Clipping the end off stops this and makes it easier to pull.

Sean

[BirdDogger]

I've heard this before so I ran it by my vet in case I ever have to deal with the situation. My vet is an avid hunter and may even be an occassional poster on this forum. He said that there is nothing to this and the best plan is to simply pull them out. Cutting them first has no effect other than shortening the quill.

Those dang vets and all their knowledge! You mean I've been cutting quills in half for nothing?

[Mike50]

A word of caution I learned this fall pulling quills. Never think your best fiend won't bite. If you can muzzle before pulling quills by yourself. Carry a leash to tie him to a tree first also helps.

[Scott Linden]

And remember, a friend will help you move. A good friend will help you move a body. A really good friend will hold your dog when you're pulling quills.

[Grizwald]

Here's my 1st encounter with Mr. Montana Porky.

Stella did her job, or so she thought, by delivering to hand alive. It was just a little one about the size of a football.
57 quills later the trusty leatherman did it's job.
Dogs don't mess with them anymore and I can tell on point if it's a porky.
I've seen some huge ones that would really put a sting on. Ouch.

[bluestemkennels]

Pull the quills if you can, as soon as you can. If you think they may have been ingested or imbedded deeply in sensitive areas, get the dog to a vet. $100-300 is a good insurance policy against serious complications.

My dogs have had their encounters. My big male didn't learn the first time and had to go to the vet after round 2.

Nowadays they will point ole porky, but they know better than to test his defenses.

Bluestem

[uplandnut]

I have a german shorthair that absolutely hates porkies, he has tangled with 8 in the last 3 years. Each time progressively worse. Four of these situations have called for a visit to the vet, every vet has told me there is not trick to pulling quills. They are designed like a fish scale, they slide in smooth like running your hand down a fish head to tail, but when you try to pull them out the "scales" offer resistance like running your hand tail to head on a fish. Even a visit to the vet can still miss some of the real little ones so make sure you put your dog on atibiotics for a while after. I've had quills finally surface 3 weeks after the encounter.

Finally decided to just retire the dog and get another without as much drive for fur game. Shock collar on high and the shorthair would go right through it to attack the porkies.

[tbaier74]

The best way to deal with MT porcupines is with a rifle. Species of "special concern," my A#$!

[ryanr]

The strand thing is definitely BS, cutting them neither helps nor hurts. What the quills have are microscopic barbs (like on a fish hook), or as uplandhunter called them scales, that help the quill hold and even work themselves deeper. For this reason you don't want to try to ease them out slowly, that's so much more painful for the dog, reallt it's torture. Get a good grip on the quill with a leatherman or pliers and with one quick, steady motion pull the quill out with one try (like pulling a band-aid off quickly.)

Thankfully my only encounter thus far was when my Labrador found a dead one and he only got 4 or 5 quills on his muzzle and paw. I actually laid across his body and neck to hold him down and pull them out in the field. He yelped loudly each pull but was fine after it was all done. I'm getting a new pup soon and now I actually live more in porcupine range so I'm guessing I'll have to deal with it more seriously at some point.

[nj gsp]

this is what the tip of the quill looks like: