A month after a porcupine quill broke off in my husky's rear foot (reason why I'm so interested in aversion training), his middle toe is now very swollen, and he doesn't want to put any weight on that foot- very sore. I took him to the vet this morning, who quoted me $600 to cut open the volcano like-swollen nodule, and remove the quill under sedation/anesthesia. I had success soaking out one other quill with warm epsom salts (I put warm epsom salt water in a baggie, insert his foot, and wrap sports tap around the top so he has a moveable soaker). He tolerates this and I try to do it for 30 minutes at a time. Does anyone else have suggestions for at-home removal of this quill? It's in the top of his toe, there is a swollen, moisture (pus, blood?) filled nodule on there, and the rest of his toe is swollen too. He tolerates me poking very patiently, I tried fishing around a little with a sterilized needle when I thought I could see the quill through the skin-no luck that time. Is there a specific methodology to the epsom soaking (concentration, temperature, time soaking intervals) I should follow or additional herbs I could use to soak or as a poultice? There are a number of reasons besides the cost that I would very much prefer to avoid the surgical route. I'd go in there myself with a sterilized scapel if I saw it/felt it below the skin, but I don't right now.

Any chance this quill is pressing to the bone? If that's the case I'd bite the bullet and pay to have it removed before you lose the foot to bone infection.

There is always a point where home doctoring ends and professionals are needed. Sounds like you're there now.

The quills are barbed and more often then not will work their way in deeper rather then out.
After a month I believe you're past the time when a vet should be called.

I wouldn't have waited near this long to get it removed. Infection can start to eat away at the bones in his foot and do permanent damage.

Besides, your dog has got to be in a lot of pain to avoid using his foot like that. It really, really needs to be taken out.

All I can add is that when my feet hurt, nothing in the world is right...

Get quotes from other vets. Small town vets usually charge less than the bigger city Docs.

If vaccinations are the issue, small town vets may not be as picky.

See a professional is so they can take responsibility for the outcome.
If you try to treat a deep seated soft tissue infection/bone infection without the benefit of modern drugs and your dog ends up with the toe/foot amputated you are going to feel awful.
For soaking: as much Epson Salt as you can dissolve in hot water= a "saturated solution". Let it cool or apply with a washrag. 4-5x/day, skin must be allowed to dry between times or you can get skin infection from the wet hair/skin.
These foot things can get out of hand.

Jump the Ma border into NH if needed, but I would have a vet deal with this. With a quill that has broken off, it moves inward, The barb in reverse will be almost impossible for you to get out on your own! I have had hedgehogs, and those little quills can be nasty in the wrong places! My brother's dogs, also a huskey, got a severe infection from quills, and the cost to treat very expensive. PM me if you need info on a vet in NH that may be less expensive.

 Quote: Tammy Moore

JWith a quill that has broken off, it moves inward, The barb in reverse will be almost impossible for you to get out on your own!

When my dog was quilled a few years ago I was warned by a vet about the risk of breaking quills during removal (due to the circumstances at the time, I took them all out myself and called the vet to consult the next day). She said some quills, if broken off just behind the barb, can indeed work themselves deep into the body, and in some rare cases, can get into the bloodstream and end up in the heart, obviously causing great damage. Of course this all spooked the crap out of me, since I had just pulled out all the quills in my dog's face without any prior experience... anyone know if that particular scenario could actually happen?

I second (or third or fourth) the suggestion to get the OP's dog to a vet, asap - infection can go from pesky to seriously dangerous in no time... I hope he'll be okay.

~Natalya

FYI
http://www.ehow.com/how_2132114_remove-porcupine-quills-dog.html