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Has your dog arrived home with a snout full of porcupine quills? While it may be disturbing to look at, there are rarely any serious long term effects from being on the losing end of a run in with a porcupine. This page will teach you how to remove porcupine quills from a dog.
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My Dog Got Quilled
This home video shows a labrador retriever who got into a fight with a porcupine and wound up with a face full of quills. The narrator advises cutting the ends of the quills, to make removal easier, and then rinse the wound with vinegar to help to prevent infection. He is not a veterinary expert, but does mention that this is the second time he's needed to remove porcupine quills from his dog.
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Introduction
Although you may be able to remove the quills yourself, in most cases it is advisable to contact your veterinarian for advice before starting to attempt to remove the quills. Removing a quill itself is simple, but subduing the dog while you do it may be tricky. -
Step 1: How to Know if You Need to Bring Your Dog to the Vet
While you'll probably be able to remove a few quills yourself, bring your dog to the vet if:- There are quills in the mouth or eyes.
- There are many quills lodged in multiple locations.
- Your pet is distressed and agitated.
- Your pet has managed to snap some of the quills off close to the skin.
Step 2: What You Need to Remove Porcupine Quills
- Scissors
- Heavy gloves
- Needle nose pliers
Step 3: How to Remove Porcupine Quills
Porcupine quills have tiny barbs along their sheath, which are designed to hold them in the skin. In order to remove them:
- Calm your dog, and make sure he is adequately restrained while you're working.
- Put on a pair of heavy gloves to protect yourself.
- Cut the end of the quill off at the tip. The quills are inflated with air when the porcupine shoots them out, and cutting the tip will release the air and deflate the quill, loosening the barbs' hold on the skin.
- Grasp the quill securely with the needle nose pliers and pull it out, being careful not to break the quill.
- After removing the quills, contact your vet to see if he or she advises a rabies shot or a course of antibiotics.
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