[frisco-kid]

You know THAT smarts! And speaking of smarts,......this dog seems to be lacking alot.

I've removed, and helped remove, quills from several dogs; both my own and friends. Only had to take one of mine to the vet once. He had two pretty far back on the roof of his mouth that I couldn't get to.

Here's some tips: Porcupine quills are hollow and filled with air. If you cut the ends off they deflate a little bit, making them a little easier to remove. However, they are also barbed so it's still a bit of a chore. I found it was easier if you could pull them on through; like through a cheek, lip, or ear. Use pliers of course. Most dogs have a pretty high tolerance for pain. The most sensitive part was the nose, as you would guess. Between their toes, also.

It's important that you get them all. I had a friend that lost his German Shepard from the infection of a quill that he had missed. It was a small one on the inside of the mouth near the jaw hinge. When it finally made him sick, he went downhill fast. The vet couldn't save him with antibiotics.