What to do if porcupine quills pierce your dog

Most Saskatchewan veterinary practices see a case of a dog struck with porcupine quills monthly, says John Ayres, a veterinarian at Norsask Veterinary Group. Although most cases he sees are not as serious as the recent story of dogs requiring surgery.

"I've seen a dog come in with one quill on the end of his nose," he said. "I've also seen them coming in when they're so covered with porcupines [quills] on their head that they look like Santa Claus, it looks like they've got a huge white beard."

The quills can migrate under the skin and tissue and get into some dangerous places. Ayres has seen them enter the eye, ear, joints, and brain, although this is uncommon. While the pain can often cause physical trauma in dogs, these quills can also seed infection.

If your porcupine quills do pierce your dog, Ayres said this is what you should do:

• Don't try to remove the quills yourself. If you do, the dog may move from pain and there is a chance the quill will break and be lost. A veterinarian will likely sedate the dog before removing the quills.
• Take your dog straight to a veterinarian. You can call ahead to try to get your dog in as soon as possible.
• Keep the dog as calm and still as you can. "A lot of dogs will want to paw at their face," Ayres said. The more the dog paws, the more likely it is to break the quills.