How to Remove Porcupine Quills From Your Dog

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If you own a dog, chances are you have either had to deal with a dog who's had an unfortunate encounter with a porcupine or you will in the future. Having hunting hounds, we take our 'porcupine kit' right along with us during our wooded adventures. I'd like to share with you the proper process for removing those nasty quills which are not only painful but will make your dog very sick if not removed promptly.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Needle Nosed Pliers or small Hemostats
Vinegar
Scissors

Step1

Contain your dog. A helper holding a leash will usually do but, depending on the dog, you may wish to muzzle the dog before proceeding. Go through the following steps for each quill you remove.

Step2

Pour plain white vinegar on the areas where the dog was stuck. This will help to loosen up the quills.

Step3

Snip the quill with the scissors. By snipping it, you will allow some of the air to escape thereby making it easier on you and your dog when it's time to pull it out.

Step4

Use your pliers or hemostats and get a good grip on the quill as close to the dog's flesh it's penetrated as possible.

Step5

Holding your pliers/hemostats with one hand, use the other hand to gently hold downward on the dog at the area where the quill is stuck as you gently but firmly pull the quill from the dog.

Tips & Warnings

Be sure to check the inside of your dog's mouth, ears, between the paws and other seemingly hidden areas.
If your dog has a very severe case in the number of quills or that the majority is in the mouth, etc... it is in your dog's best interest to be taken to a vet asap where the vet will offer the dog an anesthetic and take the quills out without further stressing your dog.
Quills will start moving inward on their own after being injected so time is of the essence in getting them out.

Comments

showpup said

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on 11/17/2008 Misery - consider taking him to the vet. Restraints will only make the dog more upset. If you have the need to restrain your dog, it's time for a vet visit. If you do not feel you need to pay the vet to remove the quills because they aren't necessarily hard to get at, but your dog is too frisky, you can just have the vet administer a light anesthetic. I've done this before with a large dog, worked great!

Misery said

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on 11/17/2008 A good way to restrain a big dog would be of help? My shep just got a few quills in the lower mouth area, he's not a biting dog, but is strong. I was thinking of taking a strip of sheet an making a kinda heavy rope out of it and restrain him with it so it doesnt strangle him cause of its thickness. Also will use a blind fold.

Gracie1402 said

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on 11/6/2008 this is great! I always feel so bad for the dog. This will help!

jalondon said

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on 8/29/2008 You've stated 2 myths.

1. The quills do not contain any pressurized air and it is a bad idea to cut them in case you cut them too close. This would make it more difficult to remove the entire quill.

2. The quill tips only rarely migrate into the tissue and if they do, it rarely causes problems other than infection (which antibiotics treat). They DO NOT have barbs on them.

Also, never pull downward as this leads to the breaking of quills. Only pull straight out with hemostats near the entry point and your other hand toward the middle of the quill.

Always a good idea to get some antibiotics from the vet after an encounter... just to be on the safe side.