Porcupine got my 2 dogs

[Wolf mom]

in the face/mouth last night. What a night waiting to get to the vet's this AM. Oh the joys of living alone in the country.

As large as they are, and one being high percentage wolf, it was impossible for me to pull more than a few quills out of either animal.

My question is: Is there anything I can do to calm them or make it less painful for them while waiting to get to the vet's?

I was wishing I even had some kind of spray (like for sunburns) that would ease their pain. Would that be OK for them?

No way to get anything down by mouth with this situation.

One more thing to become prepared for.....

[jen74145]

If you'll cut the ends of the quills, they'll deflate and be much easier to get out.
I usually wind up discontinuing pain meds for my dogs when they've done some minor thing or other; they feel better, so ignore their wound and wind up doing more damage. Just how my own are, your mileage may vary.

[Willow101]

Porcupine quills have barbs in them which cause agony when being pulled out. Going in the barb is flat against the quill shaft. Coming out they open like an umbrella and gouge the length of the entry wound.

Pulling a few quills without anesthesia is painful for the dog but not torture. A face and mouth full needs a vet...just as you did.

Willow101

[galfriend]

Oh my that sounds painful! Glad they didnt get any quills into their eyes.
Hope they both feel better real soon. Let us know how they are doing.

[Helena]

This spring our german sheperd got tangled up with one. What I did was put a towel rolled long ways into her mouth to keep her mouth open and pulled out the quills. Probably painful but of course it was a weekend..no vet. It took a few minutes and 14 quills later she seemed OK. I heard later too about cutting the quills to allow the "air" out of them. Hopefully, there won't be a next time for us..but will remember that piece of info though. Good Luck and watch for any infection in the removed quill area.