Guinness and the porcupine

[Joe Dunleavy]

Went grouse hunting today with Guinness. He flushed two but no shot opportunities. Guinness did have his first encounter with a porcupine. Went I got there, he had quills in his snout. I was able to get him out of there quick. I pulled the quills, there were only four. Is there anything I need to worry about like infection or quills that I couldn't see? He seems fine, but I wanted to know if anyone had any experience with porcupines, if they could lend an opinion.
Thanks,
JD

 

[wis boz]

I assume you know that to remove quills you turn first and then pull. If they were removed cleanly and washed with even just soap the dog should be alright. My 02 cents.
Jim Bosanny

 

[Denny Budd]

I'd take a trip to the vet just in case. If a quill was in deep and broken off and undetected by you, it could work its way deeper and cause a potentually serious problem.

 

[Joe Dunleavy]

This happened in the field this morning at 10:00. He was in and out of water all day and it didn't seem to bother him.
I washed his snout off tonight when we got home with some antibaterial soap and water. I checked for any quills I may have missed and didn't find any. I gave some slight pressure between his lips and muzzle and felt around his entire face looking for some kind of discomfort and didn't find anything. I also didn't see any cut's, puncture wounds etc.
Nothing. I don't think the quills were in deep, so I think he got pretty lucky.

I'll give the vet a call tomorrow.

 

[Joe Dunleavy]

The vet recommended washing with soap and water a couple times a day, keeping an eye on him for any breathing issues - since he took it in the nose.

I researched the quills being barbed and some say twist, some say pull. Some say they have a barb and some say they don't.

I grabbed as close to the skin as possible and all the quills came out intact. I don't believe they were very deep as Guinness didn't flinch or yelp on insertion or removal. I also pulled them less than 30 seconds from when he got stuck.

Poor guy he's had a rough year. Porky, Lyme disease, cock bird spur, and he has front shoulder now gives him issues when he hunts hard. He's 6, hopefully 7 will be luckier for him.