Proper Porcupine quill removal in the filed

[Natty Bumpo]

I'm convinced we in Michigan are blessed to be the porcupine capital of the world
The very best tool for removing quills are long reach curved locking hemostats. Do not waste time cutting the quills, it's just an old wive's tale that does nothing but double the amount of time to remove all quills and make them short (more difficult to grasp/pull).
Add a short length of rope or leash to your pack, this can be used to hog tie the dog to help immobilize it so it's not fighting to get away. Approach the task as calmly as possible, knowing it's going to take a while, be patient, pull in singles or doubles only, and follow up with a vet if you feel you may have missed any.

Also from Northern MI and can conform that its World Class porky habitat. Best advice given ight above. Long, curved hemostats are 'da bomb for getting those quill pulled efficiently. Always have a pair of these in the Vet bag.

A dog which took a bad quilling ( in mouth, around eyes, 50+, etc) will need professional attention. Depending on the pup, tranquilizer/ light anesthesia maybe too. And, yes. porky quills have hundreds of reverse barbs on them and can migrate long distances through the body , just like a needle. So if they hit a vital organ, the pooch can expire.

Up here, we porky proof our pups and deer proof them too. Saves a lot of time and troubles out hunting in the North Woods.

 

[bobman]

if you have a vet that tells you the broken ones will work themselves out get a new vet

duct tape the dogs legs so he's hog tied and pull the all out asap, the dog should be xrayed if you think you missed any.

my friends EP was killed by one they missed last year.

if you have a ecollar trained dog and you see a porky shoot it dead and then use it for some aversion training

Walk the dog down wind of the carcass and when it goes in to investigate it and gets real close keep quiet and shock the dog at the highest level on the collar. Don't say anything you want the dog the associate the shock with the porky