Sasha's Mom Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Aarg! Just need to vent. The Zoe-meister and Miss WiggleButt Sasha got out...I was stupid and didn't think they'd bolt, and didn't made husband bring them all in the house when I got home from work and opened the driveway gate. And bolt they did. They usually hop in the car, so I was surprised that they took off. Maybe they saw something - I don't know. They (especially Sasha) have not the best of recalls, which is why I don't trust them off leash. Zoe is usually pretty good; I don't trust Sasha. After 2 agonizing hours, both trotted home no worse for wear.Thank goodness, since I was beside myself and husband was freaking out. The neighbors spotted them several times hauling @ss through the neighboring orange groves. I waited and called and drove up and down the street for hours. I'm going to be hoarse all week. And both seemed fine after the fact, the way they came sauntering home like they'd left a note that they were running out to the grocery store or something... Until Zoe came hopping in after one last bathroom trip out on 3 legs. She let me look her over, and I found a centimeter of something sticking out of her paw. And I couldn't pull it out. And husband tried. And I tried to finesse it out. And she yelped and bolted. I sidled back over to her, petting and talking... and figured I needed ammo for this one, since whatever it was had to be really jammed in there. So I pulled up 2cc of lidocaine (hey, I'm an ER doc...) and Andy held her and I infiltrated the area. (Yes, I have lidocaine at home. I have an accident-prone husband, and had to sew him up once without it. For the record, ice really does work well.) Anyway, by now it's 10 pm, and there are no emergency vets for about 20 miles, so I figured it was worth a shot. I've seen people for far worse. Whatever this was, it was really jammed in there, but at least she was letting us manipulate it. Andy gave a good tug, and out slid an inch long "thing." It almost looks like a porcupine quill, except I've never actually seen one. Whatever it is, a good 5/8" was below the skin. OUCH! I took pictures, because I'm a nerd. What the heck is that? Since I'm leaving for a business trip in the morning (great timing girls...get out, then get stabbed with some random object...) husband gets to watch her like a hawk. I have antibiotics, but he's got the vet info. We shall see... I just really needed to vent. She's my baby (Well, Sasha is too, but Sasha is a little more "street smart" than lil Zoe.) Sigh. And I really have to pack, and get sleep, but I have too much juice going to calm down just yet. Maybe some hot tea for my raw throat. Just needed to vent. Thanks. Danielle Nik the Boss, Sassy the good dog who "comes," Sasha the escapee, Zoe the walking wounded, and Rue, who ALWAYS prefers to go for a ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tranquilis Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Wow. Impressive. No idea what it is, but it sure as heck couldn't have felt good! Suka having slipped out past my son recently, I can identify with your panic and adrenaline attack. Fortunately, Suka returned on her own in less than fifteen minutes, but those were fifteen minutes of sheer terror - Who knew what she might have gotten into? God Bless that you've got the necessary skills, equipment, and luck to get everyone back in more-or-less acceptable condition! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbc1963 Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Ooohfh! That does look quill-like, though I'm no expert. Poor baby. On a side note, I just googled an image of "popcupine quill" to see what they look like, and came upon this reeeeeally poor baby. You should make Zoe look at it as a life lesson. http://www.joe-ks.com/archives_sep2005/Pit...vsPorcupine.htm Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
in2adventure Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Hmmmm, don't know what that is. Not a quill though. Looks painfull I can sympathise with your plite. y last dog went for a walk-a-bout and wa gone for 6 hours. She got clipped by a car (we think) because she came home with a HUGE hematoma on her belly that was the size of her belly The vet said she would be fine and no internal damage was done. She NEVER wandered away again. 15 years later, Lucia did the same thing She chased a squirrel out of the yard and that was it for 8 HOURS! I was a histarical mess for both. Lucia actually ran in front of my car while I was searching for her Thank goodness I was going slow looking for her or I might have hit my own dog. You couldn't even tell she was white because she found a mud whole to play in and was totally caked with brown I'm glad the girls are home safe. It's so scary not knowing where they are when that happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
in2adventure Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 By the way, That's the worst case of a porcupine quilling I have ever seen That poooooooor dog! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.DaisyDuke Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I thought it looked like a pin feather off a turkey, but obviously they aren't tough enough to stick into a dogs leg like that... Whatever it was, make sure he watches it like a hawk, who knows what she could have gotten into. Yikes! At least they returned home and that was the all the trouble they encountered though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 It just looks like a bit of broken off stick (what I would call a stob) or thorn. If they ran through a recently cut-over or bush hogged area, she could've just stepped on a sharp stick and broke it off. You probably know this, being an ER doc, but I think I'd be soaking it daily in Epsom salts to keep it open and draining. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ItsADogsLyfe Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I thought it looked a bit like a porcupine quill, but its been years since I've seen one. I had 5 dogs get got by a porcupine one night when I was all alone. I had to get all 5 (large dogs) into the car and drive them to our local vet (small town and he met me at his clinic) He tranquilized them all and painstakingly pulled them all out. Then I had to get 5 large sleeping dogs back into the car and take them home, by myself! That pit bull is the worse pic I've ever seen of a dog with porcupine quills! Was that all from one porcupine you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ItsADogsLyfe Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I thought it looked a bit like a porcupine quill, but its been years since I've seen one. I had 5 dogs get got by a porcupine one night when I was all alone. I had to get all 5 (large dogs) into the car and drive them to our local vet (small town and he met me at his clinic) He tranquilized them all and painstakingly pulled them all out. Then I had to get 5 large sleeping dogs back into the car and take them home, by myself! That pit bull is the worse pic I've ever seen of a dog with porcupine quills! Was that all from one porcupine you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryP Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Wow, Danielle, you're having some tough luck with dogs lately. I'm glad both Zoe and Sasha are back home safe. Give little Zoe a hug and kiss from me. I'd bet it's a thorn or a small stick. It couldn't be a porcupine quill, unless someone's pet porcupine got away (we don't have them in FL). I've also had that panic attack when a dog gets out. A couple of years ago, Charlie got out of my yard. I must have forgotten to close the double gate after mowing the lawn. After realizing that I hadn't seen him for a while, which is unusual since he is usually right next to me, I started to look for him. It was one of those really nice days where we just left the sliding glass doors open, so I just figured that he was outside. I suddenly realized that he was not anywhere in the house or yard. I went out and called him, but he was nowhere close by or he would have come. I was so afraid that he had gotten hit by a car and I was going to find him lying dead on the road. Steve got in his truck and drove around the block. I was in a total panic walking up the road calling for him when Steve came back around the corner just a few minutes later. I could see that he had Charlie in the car and I was so relieved that I just started to cry. I know what you mean about Zoe being your baby. Charlie is mine. I love all of my dogs, but Charlie and I have a special relationship. Wherever Charlie went, though, he must have had fun because he was covered in who-knows-what and stunk bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Danielle I'm so glad the girls got back (more or less) safely. I can imagine the panic you felt. Poor Zoe - that must have really hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLloydJones Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Ouch, that doesn't look good. I had to extract a cactus spine from Sennca's paw pad recently (it was about 1/4 inch deep in her pad). I've never had to cope with a porcupine quill though. Hope that Zoe gets well soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancy Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Years ago, I worked with a young woman who loved to go for walks in our local parks with her husband. One Monday, she was late to work - highly unusual. When she arrived, her foot was encased in much bandaging. She had been "hiking" in sandals. And had stepped wrong on a twig. The twig somehow went through her foot. So, even a small twig can do lots of damage. Even for shod feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack & Co. Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 I have Invisible Fence and love it. PM me if you want more information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchersMomma Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Yikes! That was really in far if your pics are any indication! No wonder the poor thing was limping! She's so lucky to have an ER doc as a pet! And Mary..OMG! I can't stop looking at that picture of that poor pitbull! I wonder if it survived! That's insane!! I actually felt nauseous when I saw it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tranquilis Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 And Mary..OMG! I can't stop looking at that picture of that poor pitbull! I wonder if it survived! That's insane!! I actually felt nauseous when I saw it! Oh, I'm sure it did survive. As painful and debilitating as such damage is, once they're de-quilled, they generally bounce right back. And, unfortunately, the next time that dog sees a porcupine, it's likely to get nailed all over again - Dogs which get that badly quilled tend to be repeat offenders; Either they've got a big 'mad on' for porcupines afterwards, or they were having so much fun at the time, that the quilling just doesn't have the memorable impact it ought to have had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbc1963 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 I'm glad to hear that you think the PB survived. I was worried that it would kill a dog. Yeesh! I had read another blog about a dog who had rolled, broken the quills off under his skin, and 18 months later developed and abcess around one that almost killed him. Those are horrible! Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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