I've heard there's 2 types of dogs when it comes to porcupines. One type get one and have enough. The other type gets a taste of what happens, then they're out for revenge. And if you have more than one dog, they are more likely to band together for revenge.
Ouch! I've never tangled with a porcupine, but I've come too close to a cactus a time or two, and that was enough of that. My sympathies to the pup, and I hope the barbs come out relatively easy. (PS - is that a Novocain or other skin/nerve deadening agent that can help ease the pain?)
This pup should go to the vet asap but if your dog has a relatively small number of quills (30 or less) in the snout/nose/lips and they can be calmed down and restrained, you can attempt pulling them yourself. And by restrained, I mean that you're going to have to use your body to pin them down. If you have even a medium sized dog and you are 5' 4" and a buck twenty, don't even try this, your dog is going to kick your ass.
First, wrap a towel or tee shirt over their eyes, gripping tightly under the jaw without restricting their breathing. They absolutely should not be able to watch you do what you're about to do. Lay them down on their side up against a wall or something else that won't move and put your weight on them. Using your sharpest set of dikes, short scissors or heavy nail clippers to snip off the end of the quill (about the half the visible length) and then pull straight (meaning the same direction the quill went in) out using grippy pliers, one at a time. The pain of removal is pretty bad but it's very much diminished once each quill is removed. Be prepared to wrestle with your dog because they will resist this vigorously, especially at first, but once you're done, they will be pretty much back to normal. Resist the urge to give them any sort of human pain medication, big nono. Afterward, watch the area that had quills in it over the next week just in case you missed a piece, or a quill tip broke off under the skin during the ordeal. If they're still having a problem or you find any swelling, that's a trip to the vet for sure.
Good advice Matthew, I’ve done it but it’s just a contest of wills and the dog don’t know you’re trying to help....by the end of a couple of quill sessions I’ve been exhausted, irritated at everybody, and just generally pissed off at the world. And that was when I didn’t get bit. So I decided if it happens again we go to the vet.....
Years ago, I quail hunted with a man whose pointer had a bad habit of pointing skunks. The dog pointed four in one year. I saw it point one and spray the owner. Another time that silly dog pointed a coyote that laid still while the dog was at a rigid point with it's nose less than two feet from the 'yote.
One of our ranch dogs loves skunks. If he goes out with us at night, he'll find at least one. Usually manages to grab it and kill it before he gets sprayed. Usually.
Fifty years ago this month I took an wilderness survival course in the Absaroka Mountains east of Yellowstone. We pretty much had to eat what we could find. Porcupine liver tastes pretty much like any other liver you would find at the store. Note, you skin them very, very carefully.
I pulled them out of a young (10 month) German Shepherd, and I am small. She didn't get them too badly. I zipped her in my husband's coveralls, tied the arms around the back and sat on her.
I can almost feel the pain, poor baby will not mess with that animal again.
ReplyDeletePoor baby, that hurts.
ReplyDeletewanna bet? watch a few episodes of dr. pol. some of them dogs just can't not quit the porkies.
ReplyDeleteI've heard there's 2 types of dogs when it comes to porcupines. One type get one and have enough. The other type gets a taste of what happens, then they're out for revenge.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you have more than one dog, they are more likely to band together for revenge.
I had a husky/coyote mix that got into it with a porcupine one time, that was one hell of an afternoon. I found out just how strong that guy was.
ReplyDeleteHad a German Shepard when growing up that come back with a snout full of quills three times. He was definitely the of the revenge type.
ReplyDeleteOuch! I've never tangled with a porcupine, but I've come too close to a cactus a time or two, and that was enough of that. My sympathies to the pup, and I hope the barbs come out relatively easy.
ReplyDelete(PS - is that a Novocain or other skin/nerve deadening agent that can help ease the pain?)
President Elect B Woodman
This pup should go to the vet asap but if your dog has a relatively small number of quills (30 or less) in the snout/nose/lips and they can be calmed down and restrained, you can attempt pulling them yourself. And by restrained, I mean that you're going to have to use your body to pin them down. If you have even a medium sized dog and you are 5' 4" and a buck twenty, don't even try this, your dog is going to kick your ass.
DeleteFirst, wrap a towel or tee shirt over their eyes, gripping tightly under the jaw without restricting their breathing. They absolutely should not be able to watch you do what you're about to do. Lay them down on their side up against a wall or something else that won't move and put your weight on them. Using your sharpest set of dikes, short scissors or heavy nail clippers to snip off the end of the quill (about the half the visible length) and then pull straight (meaning the same direction the quill went in) out using grippy pliers, one at a time. The pain of removal is pretty bad but it's very much diminished once each quill is removed. Be prepared to wrestle with your dog because they will resist this vigorously, especially at first, but once you're done, they will be pretty much back to normal. Resist the urge to give them any sort of human pain medication, big nono. Afterward, watch the area that had quills in it over the next week just in case you missed a piece, or a quill tip broke off under the skin during the ordeal. If they're still having a problem or you find any swelling, that's a trip to the vet for sure.
Good advice Matthew, I’ve done it but it’s just a contest of wills and the dog don’t know you’re trying to help....by the end of a couple of quill sessions I’ve been exhausted, irritated at everybody, and just generally pissed off at the world. And that was when I didn’t get bit. So I decided if it happens again we go to the vet.....
DeleteYears ago, I quail hunted with a man whose pointer had a bad habit of pointing skunks. The dog pointed four in one year. I saw it point one and spray the owner. Another time that silly dog pointed a coyote that laid still while the dog was at a rigid point with it's nose less than two feet from the 'yote.
ReplyDeleteOne of our ranch dogs loves skunks. If he goes out with us at night, he'll find at least one. Usually manages to grab it and kill it before he gets sprayed. Usually.
ReplyDeleteFifty years ago this month I took an wilderness survival course in the Absaroka Mountains east of Yellowstone. We pretty much had to eat what we could find. Porcupine liver tastes pretty much like any other liver you would find at the store. Note, you skin them very, very carefully.
ReplyDeleteWe used to say, "If you f*ck with the truck and you're not a mechanic, you're in for a world of hurt."
ReplyDeleteCloroform and a pair of pliars. No problem.
ReplyDeleteI pulled them out of a young (10 month) German Shepherd, and I am small. She didn't get them too badly. I zipped her in my husband's coveralls, tied the arms around the back and sat on her.
ReplyDelete