Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Porcupine quill injuries in dogs and risk of complications
By Johnson, Matthew D et al.·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2006·Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Porcupine quill injuries in dogs: a retrospective of 296 cases (1998-2002).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs, particularly Siberian huskies, rottweilers, and German shepherd mixes, suffered injuries from porcupine quills, especially during spring and fall. It's important for pet owners to bring their dog to the vet right away if they notice quill injuries, as waiting longer than 24 hours can increase the risk of complications. The study found that complications were more likely to occur if the dog was seen later for treatment. If your dog has been injured by porcupine quills, prompt veterinary care is crucial to avoid further issues.
People also search for: dog porcupine quill injury treatment · Siberian husky quill injury · how to help dog with porcupine quills
Abstract
The purpose of this retrospective study was to identify factors associated with quill injury in dogs. A second objective was to determine the risk of complications and any factors that would predict the likelihood of complications. Hospital records of 296 porcupine quill injuries in dogs from 1998 to 2002 were studied. There was an increased occurrence of porcupine encounters in the spring and fall months; Siberian huskies, rottweilers, and German shepherd crosses were significantly overrepresented for quill injuries. There was no association between risk of complications and either number of quills or antimicrobial use. Increasing time between quill injury and presentation was associated with an increased risk of complications. Because of the increased frequency of complication with a longer interval until presentation, clients should be strongly encouraged to bring the dog in as soon as the quill injury is discovered. Patients presented after 24 hours should be monitored closely during the first 3 weeks after injury, as most complications occurred during this time.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16898110/