Here's what happens when a pit bull fights a porcupine

A New York lawyer, dairy farmer and farm lover has documented the after-effects of one of the most gruesome animal battles one could imagine: pit bull vs. porcupine. Lorraine Lewandrowski, who tweets under the moniker @NYFarmer, posted updates Tuesday morning from her sister’s veterinary office, as she treated a pit bull for dozens of quill piercings after the fight.

The quills narrowly missed the pit bull’s eyes, Lewandowski said, but the dog had a lot in its mouth as well, as far down as its throat.

The dog had to undergo anesthesia to allow the quills to be removed; porcupine quills hook into the skin, making removal extremely painful otherwise.

Another dog was involved in the attack as well, although Lewandowski said she got off a lot easier.

Lewandowski said dog-porcupine fights are somewhat normal in farm country during the summer, when dogs tend to run free in the woods. They’re attracted to the odor of porcupines, she said.

The story has a happy ending, though; all the quills were removed and the pit bull was sent home with antibiotics and pain killers to help its recovery.

There’s no word on what happened to the porcupine.

The Guardian Vet Centre in Edmonton says if you find your dog has had an encounter with a purcupine, never try to take matters into your own hands.

• Do not attempt to pull them out yourself. This is extremely painful and will, without doubt, result in a struggle. Quills can be pushed deeper into your pet and even be buried so as to be un-retrievable.

• Try to keep your pet from pawing at its face (this is where most pets receive the majority of their quills).

• Drive safely to your family vet or the nearest emergency veterinary hospital.

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