Thanks Connie - that was a fun one - so were all the comments form the LB posters.

Did anyone say pliers? For porcupine quills?
In the field, stuffing something like a towel into the dogs mouth, then tie mouth closed, then pull quills is the method I have used.
Many dogs don't seem to learn about porcupines either, seeming to think they are going to be able to kill the next one..

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Betty speaks from a professional POV, too.

The procedure she says is what happened with my granddog, who was then taken to the vet the minute they could get out of the woods.


I have since learned some enhancements that would add white vinegar, sharp scissors, rubber gloves, alcohol for disinfecting the pliers, and antibiotic ointment to the kit, as well as an eye wash just in case (but far FAR better not to need it).

Of course, this is only if you cannot get to the vet quickly. You don't want to leave them in. Quills are barbed, they are easily infected, and they are terribly painful. They can also work in and reach vital organs.

http://voices.yahoo.com/how-remove-porcupine-quills-dog-11024068.html

I have committed these steps to memory now, as well as printed out the page.

All JMO.

My granddog looked as bad as the one in the picture. :-(

Betty, thank you very much for taking the time; Connie, I had no idea there as a method to it.

Porcupines are nasty as I used to use them in making jewelery and they are sharp!

The tip about how to stuff the dogs mouth closes and tie it is a good tip too as I can't imagine putting a muzzle of any size over the needles if they were standing up on his muzzle.

All this info is excellent even for day trips as sometimes there are accidents that are bad enough that immediate attention is needed before transporting.

I plan on taking Heiland fishing too and one of my dogs once got a barbed fish hook in her lip. I forget the gauge but it was for cod fish so it was pretty big. My fault but that lab of mine loved to eat fish and she was fast. I knew to cut the barb off before pulling it out. However, Dusty, my Lab, didn't react the way Heiland would and she somehow knew I was trying to help and stood stoic and still - at his age, Heiland would not. Hmm - at any age I don't think he would

Quills are much worse so I will study the method you wrote Connie.

Three important warnings about camping/hiking/fishing:


Never give raw salmonids to dogs if you are on the ocean in the Northwest or on any river west of the Cascades.



For trail-mix eaters everywhere:

Never give raisins to dogs.

Never give Macadamia nuts to dogs.



Don't give beans (the pulse kind ... green beans are OK) to dogs. (I know canned baked beans are frequent camping provisions. I have a pot of Boston baked beans cooking right now! That's why I thought of it.)


raw salmonids: http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=27363&page=1#293948

grapes/raisins: http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=24014&page=1#249438

nuts: http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=24014&page=1#249428


The beans, of course, are highly gas-producing and not appropriate for a bloat-vulnerable dog. (This doesn't mean green beans.)

 Quote: Maggie MacDonald

... The tip about how to stuff the dogs mouth closes and tie it is a good tip too

Of course, it goes without saying that the material is hanging well out the sides and cannot be swallowed.

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet. I just skimmed and didn't see it in this particular thread. Though not a part of the first aid kit, I believe it is very important to know the location and phone number of the nearest emergency vet to wherever you happen to be. This should be pretty easy if you are going to be in one spot for a period of time. It gets a little more complicated if you are on the move and staying in a different place every night, but unless you're camping in the wilderness, there should be an office, and you could inquire there. Most places are going to have a number available, since you won't be the first person to have asked.

I speak from personal experience. I have been on vacation and needed an emergency vet. I've also been in a campground office when someone else came in, asking where the nearest emergency vet was.

Cheri, my sweet husband bought me the Garmin talking navigator that has all the bells and whistles. No matter where we are (as long as there is satellite service) I can punch in a request for any service, points of interests etc for the area I am in and it will come up.

Also the Garmin will show the map to the closest vets. Good thing I got it before I got Heiland, all extra money goes to his stuff now haha.

It's an excellent suggestion and very important.

I plan on re-reading this post a week b4 we leave to make sure I have gotten all the suggested products and tools for health care and the 'how to' copied for removing porcupine quills etc.

It's been a real eye opener for me on how so many more things are needed when you are camping with a big dog who is still a puppy and more vulnerable to accidents than my couch potato dog .. err sleeping bag potato dog.