DON'T MESS WITH A PORCUPINE
- Thread starter vinnie
- Start date
Removing porcupine quills from a dog can be as simple as gripping a quill with your thumb and finger and pulling. On the other hand it just may be a long drawn out affair under anesthesia in the veterinarian's office.
Porcupine quills do not have barbs at their ends, and only rarely will actually migrate through the dog's tissues. The points of the quills are extremely sharp and stiff and under the microscope actually appear as if they have scales or shingles, not barbs, that point backward. Once imbedded into tissues they can be difficult to remove, especially the tiny ones that want to break before they are extracted. Through the last 30 years in the forested region of northern Wisconsin where I have practiced I have removed thousands of porky quills from hundreds of dogs. I have learned that even if a small part of the tip of the quill remains behind when trying to extract the quill, it rarely causes any problem... especially if an appropriate antibiotic is used for a week or ten days after the procedure. (Once during a spay surgery I came across a two inch porcupine quill in the subcutaneous tissue of the dog's abdomen. It showed no signs of scar tissue or migration and was soft and pliable and had been there an unknown amount of time.) In other words it seems to me to be easier on the dog if I do not make numerous incisions and prod and spread tissues in order to find a tiny segment of a quill tip.
the patient would be nothing but lacerations if incisions were made whenever a tiny quill tip remains. An entire quill is a different matter, though, and an attempt should be made to remove any intact quills that are able to penetrate the skin completely.
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Porcupine quills do not have barbs at their ends, and only rarely will actually migrate through the dog's tissues. The points of the quills are extremely sharp and stiff and under the microscope actually appear as if they have scales or shingles, not barbs, that point backward. Once imbedded into tissues they can be difficult to remove, especially the tiny ones that want to break before they are extracted. Through the last 30 years in the forested region of northern Wisconsin where I have practiced I have removed thousands of porky quills from hundreds of dogs. I have learned that even if a small part of the tip of the quill remains behind when trying to extract the quill, it rarely causes any problem... especially if an appropriate antibiotic is used for a week or ten days after the procedure. (Once during a spay surgery I came across a two inch porcupine quill in the subcutaneous tissue of the dog's abdomen. It showed no signs of scar tissue or migration and was soft and pliable and had been there an unknown amount of time.) In other words it seems to me to be easier on the dog if I do not make numerous incisions and prod and spread tissues in order to find a tiny segment of a quill tip.
the patient would be nothing but lacerations if incisions were made whenever a tiny quill tip remains. An entire quill is a different matter, though, and an attempt should be made to remove any intact quills that are able to penetrate the skin completely.
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beantownjim quilled
If btj has a few quills and you are certain that there are none in his mouth or throat, you can remove quills at home fairly easily. The first thing to do is to get a pair of pliers, then something to cover btj's eyes so it doesn't see those pliers approaching.
Cover btj's eyes with your hand if necessary, speak softly and don't act frantic or you will freak out btj, even worse! With btj's eyes covered, bring the pliers up to a quill and grab the quill firmly and close to the skin. Beantownjim will jerk backward and will separate himself from the quill. Sometimes you can grab more than one quill at a time, too. If btj will be cooperative, coax him to accept your next attempt at removing more quills and eventually you may be able to remove a number of them. You may have to give btj a break for a few minutes, too, between rounds of quill pulling.
Remember, if there are a large number of quills or if there are a number deep in the mouth, beantownjim may have to be put down.:scared
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I would recommend RAYMOND to pull the quills out of beantownjim.
If btj has a few quills and you are certain that there are none in his mouth or throat, you can remove quills at home fairly easily. The first thing to do is to get a pair of pliers, then something to cover btj's eyes so it doesn't see those pliers approaching.
Cover btj's eyes with your hand if necessary, speak softly and don't act frantic or you will freak out btj, even worse! With btj's eyes covered, bring the pliers up to a quill and grab the quill firmly and close to the skin. Beantownjim will jerk backward and will separate himself from the quill. Sometimes you can grab more than one quill at a time, too. If btj will be cooperative, coax him to accept your next attempt at removing more quills and eventually you may be able to remove a number of them. You may have to give btj a break for a few minutes, too, between rounds of quill pulling.
Remember, if there are a large number of quills or if there are a number deep in the mouth, beantownjim may have to be put down.:scared
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I would recommend RAYMOND to pull the quills out of beantownjim.
