If curiosity kills a cat, a dog's curiosity can earn man's best friend porcupine quills. Any dog owner would be exposed to the inquisitive behavior of the pet. Dogs are known for their high prey drives. Anything that moves will gain the attention of a dog. However not all small animals can be a victim of the sharp teeth and strong jaws of a dog as an encounter with a porcupine will make a dog cry "uncle".
Porcupines are large rodents found in Africa, America and in Asia. Porcupines have a very efficient weapon they use against their predators - their quills. This slow moving animal has soft furs that are mixed with the quills that are released when they get in contact with the body of the dog. Removing the quills that were embedded on the body of the dog will be very difficult as the quills are held firmly in place by the backward pointing barbs.
The dog that has lost the bout with a porcupine will be in pain and so that it would continuously paw at the quill until they are broken and more difficult to remove. The barb of the quills that remains embedded in the skin can result to abscesses. As the quills are designed to move forward, they can get embedded deeply into the dog's skin and in time can even puncture an internal organ. It is therefore necessary to remove all the quills.
If the dog has been stupid enough to bite a porcupine, the quills will be lodged inside the mouth. Because of the fight it is also possible that hundreds of quills will get stuck on the dog's face and body. Removing the quills will be very difficult as the pain will make the dog struggle. Removal of hundred quills is a job for the vet as anesthetizing the dog will be necessary. The capable hands of a vet can better perform the removal of the quills especially from delicate body parts like the mouth.
The owner can help the pet if there are only a few quills embedded on the face, snout and body of the pet. This first aid method will be very necessary to alleviate the pain of the pet especially if a vet is not available. Another person's help may be necessary to prevent the pet from struggling. Heavy gardening gloves would protect the hands from the barbs of the quills. Use needle-nose pliers to grip the quill. So that the whole quill can be removed, the pliers must be positioned close to the skin. After all the quills are removed, use hydrogen peroxide to wash the affected body parts.
Porcupines are large rodents found in Africa, America and in Asia. Porcupines have a very efficient weapon they use against their predators - their quills. This slow moving animal has soft furs that are mixed with the quills that are released when they get in contact with the body of the dog. Removing the quills that were embedded on the body of the dog will be very difficult as the quills are held firmly in place by the backward pointing barbs.
The dog that has lost the bout with a porcupine will be in pain and so that it would continuously paw at the quill until they are broken and more difficult to remove. The barb of the quills that remains embedded in the skin can result to abscesses. As the quills are designed to move forward, they can get embedded deeply into the dog's skin and in time can even puncture an internal organ. It is therefore necessary to remove all the quills.
If the dog has been stupid enough to bite a porcupine, the quills will be lodged inside the mouth. Because of the fight it is also possible that hundreds of quills will get stuck on the dog's face and body. Removing the quills will be very difficult as the pain will make the dog struggle. Removal of hundred quills is a job for the vet as anesthetizing the dog will be necessary. The capable hands of a vet can better perform the removal of the quills especially from delicate body parts like the mouth.
The owner can help the pet if there are only a few quills embedded on the face, snout and body of the pet. This first aid method will be very necessary to alleviate the pain of the pet especially if a vet is not available. Another person's help may be necessary to prevent the pet from struggling. Heavy gardening gloves would protect the hands from the barbs of the quills. Use needle-nose pliers to grip the quill. So that the whole quill can be removed, the pliers must be positioned close to the skin. After all the quills are removed, use hydrogen peroxide to wash the affected body parts.
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