dog v. porcupine - guess who won?

[mommahen2four]

not my dog...poor thing. Now what? Any way to get the quills out without a visit to the vet???

[TexasArtist]

well when my dogs got them I'd lay them down on their side, straddle them and start pulling with pliers

then a freind told me that if you cut the ends first they will pretty much slide on out cause they are like a little pillow of air. Rinse the doggy with peroxide too.

[Tim_H]

Been there. What I do is wrap the dog tightly in a towel so it can't move and wet it so it does'nt overheat while he struggles (and they will struggle). Next
have someone hold it down while you pull quills. If the quills are poking thru it's easier to push them thru than to pull them out. Good luck. Tim

[mwhit]

Depends on how big the dog is and how determined you are to get them out. My big dog is a nightmare to get quills out of. I have to tie his mouth shut, wrap him to a lamp post and wrestle with him... I end up pretty bruised before we're done. Thankfully, he's only gotten them twice.

Cutting the ends helps, but I've been told that if you pour a bit of vinegar on them they come out easier (never tried it-- sounds like it would sting). If the dog is small enough you can hold his head down with a pitchfork-- just put it over his neck and shove it into the ground. That doesn't work on 110+ pound dogs though...

[Patsy]

The doctor simply took pliers & started pulling. Hurt like ****!!! Never again will I pay that kind of money to be laughed at & tortured!

[TexasArtist]

it could be worse.....THIS could be your dog

[homesteadforty]

Cut the ends off, grab, pull with moderate pressure as you twist the quill... kinda like unscrewing them.

[Laura]

Be sure to check inside his mouth and throat.

[chickenmommy]

Originally Posted by TexasArtist

it could be worse.....THIS could be your dog

That poor dog! I just can't imagine the next couple hours of his life! I almost can't believe I want to laugh.

[cow whisperer]

A few years ago, my dog had a fight with a porcupine.... He also lost.....

He had to be taken to a vet.... they were inside his mouth, throat, up his nose, etc.... He required surgery......

I hope you can care for your dog without a vet visit....

[HilltopDaisy]

I think it depends on how many quills we're talking about. My little Daisy got hit once, about 30 quills. They were all in her muzzle, so I pulled about a dozen right away, before she knew what was happening. We went to bed, me with plyers in hand, her with a benedryl in her. Every couple of hours I pulled two or three more. If they had been in her tongue or further up her face I would have paid a vet to put her under. My research told me that the quills can work their way IN, into the sinus cavity and brain.