Well, Gunther has been paying a fair amount of attention to the rear fenceline for about a week. Tonight when I let the dogs out before their dinner he didn't come back to beat down the door as usual. When I opened the door the schnauzer came in and all I heard was that rythmic barking.... so off to grab my shoes and my flashlight....

By the time I had my flashlight he wasn't barking anymore, but wasn't at the door either. So I headed back across the pasture.

He had about 10 porcupine quills right in the nose...

I have never had this happen before, so I just removed them with the hemostats. Is there anything else I should do? There was a tiny bit of blood from the worst cluster on the end of his nose...

I guess tomorrow while I am waiting for the chicken to get here I will have to camp out with the .22.....

I am just glad it wasn't a skunk. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Ouch - poor Gunther! If most of the quills were in his nose and there weren't too many you are probably ok and you got most of them. Just keep an eye out for any swelling and kind of massage his head under the fur and sometimes you can feel a quill that has migrated or is just now popping up - it can take a few days or weeks. Just about had a wildlife encounter last night when taking one of the alaskan pups out on leash - just about stepped on Mr Skunk!

I would take him to the vet. The last thing you want is an infection. Knowing you I know that you know this already. Keep us posted.

Milt

Do my eyes deceive me? Milt?

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Deanna,
How's Gunther doing?? Give us an update please. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Milt,
How the heck are ya?

Goober's fine, he just went to my developmental psych class with me.... talk about a long down. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I sat out part of the day yesterday and evened the score with the porcupine...

Deanna 1, porcupine 0...

Don't pick on my dog! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Deanna,

I am not sure that class counts as a long down. They are generally a snoozer anyway!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Richard, Believe it or not it is one of my more interesting classes... I sit right next to a kid that makes sexist comments almost daily, and I am a bit of a ball buster. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (imagine that) It is comical at times. Add to that the fact that Gunther is welcome in class and it ranks right up there with my favorite classes.

Milt, I didn't take Gunther to the vet. Once they were out she couldn't have even told where they were to begin with so it is just up to me to keep an eye on it. I never knew porcupine quills are like hair, I always figuired they were like toothpicks, but they are flexible and soft. Learn new things everyday. Anyway, no signs of anything funny, so all is good. I knew he was ok anyway, when I got him in the house. I wanted to take the quills out and he wanted dinner instead. So, I took his picture <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> then took out the quills.

the mark of a true photographer... wait! let me grab the camera <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Deanna, Great to hear Gunther doing well.
You didn't set Gunther up just to get photo's, did you! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

My Akita tore off a nail, climbing the wall to get to a lizard. She got the lizard but now I have her on 600mg of Primor. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Maybe the lizard won after all.

Diet doing great. 34 lbs shed. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Just for future reference, I have heard that when removing quills it is a good idea to cut the ends off first. This supposedly releases the tension on the barbs and helps them come out easier.....