Nebraskaland

OCTOBER 2015 • NEBRASKAland 35 Porcupine Quills An excited dog will throw caution to the wind. I've seen it once while fox hunting – hounds will glue their noses to the ground and unknowingly barge in too closely to a startled porcupine. A few quills here and there are generally not an emergency, but many in the dog's mouth or eyes can be. In this case, the immediate attention of a veterinarian is needed, who may administer anesthesia to remove the quills. Field Treatment If only a few quills have penetrated the skin, these can be removed in the field with a hemostat or needle nose pliers. With an excited dog, restrain its legs with duct tape or rope, and if needed, force its mouth open with a stick or belt held horizontally to the back of the mouth. Hold down the skin with your other hand and pull out the quill firmly with pliers, but try not to break any quills. Broken quills are difficult to locate and can also migrate to other parts of the dog's body, causing infection. Do not remove any quills that have penetrated a dog's eyes; see a veterinarian as soon as possible. Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia is the condition of critically low blood sugar and may occur in humans and dogs. In anticipation for the hunt, many dogs will not eat. They will hunt hard and then get low blood sugar. Blood sugar, or glucose, is the body's main source of energy. Low levels will result in decreased energy and possibly loss of consciousness. Field Treatment "Dogs will stagger and look like they are going to seizure," said Dr. Kent Forney, a Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioner who owns the Nebraska Animal Medical Center in Lincoln. Try to get your pet to eat, especially before a hunt. "I get up about 4 a.m. to feed my dogs and go back to bed," Forney said. "Then at lunch I give them something they will eat, usually a can of food. This gives them the energy they need." Dr. Melissa Heithold of the Wayne Veterinary Clinic suggests: "Carry corn syrup or honey packets. If the dog is unable to take a meal, apply syrup or honey to the gums," and it will get absorbed. Words from a Veterinarian "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of care," Forney said. "Work with your dog every day so they are ready for hunting. Then once you are done with the hunt, the dog comes first. Wipe them down with a towel, look in their eyes for weed seeds. Check the chest and abdomen for cuts. Check the feet. Feed them and give them water. Give them a clean dry bed. Then have a drink. Never before." ■ Special thanks to Dr. Melissa Heithold and Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioners Dr. Kent Forney and Dr. Mark Pinkerton for their expertise. T he foot bandage is a must-know technique for gun dog owners. Use it to treat injury to foot pads, laceration on the legs, fractured limbs and to prevent infection. Before bandaging a foot, make sure bleeding has stopped. Flush the wound with sterile water or antiseptic wash and then apply antibiotic ointment. Bandage should be snug, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation. Replace bandage if it begins to smell or becomes wet. Supplies: Telfa Pads – Non-stick padding over the wound to promote healing. Cast Padding – Provides even pressure over wound to prevent further bleeding. Elastikon – Stretchy tape to keep padding in place. Very sticky – use sufficient cast padding underneath to minimize contact to fur. First-Aid Medical Tape – Adhesive tape that provides support for splints and water protection. Splint Materials – Use sticks or a rolled-up newspaper or magazine. Directions: Clean wound and apply Telfa pad directly over the wound. Wrap the leg with cast padding in a figure-eight pattern; an extra thick layer of cotton should be applied for fractures. Then wrap Elastikon over the cast padding in the same pattern. If a fracture is present, use white tape to apply a stick on both sides of the leg so that they cover a joint above the fracture and a joint below the fracture for support. If no sticks are present, as may be the case when hunting in open grassland, carry newspaper or a magazine. The size of the bandage, or how far you wrap up the leg, will depend on the injury. ■ Bandaging a Paw 1st layer: Padding 2nd layer: Elastic Tape 3rd layer: White Tape Foot Bandage Wrap Sequence 1 2 3 4 5 end ILLUSTRATION BY TIM REIGERT

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