A run-in with a porcupine leaves a dog with a face full of barbed quills. Cornell’s veterinary college says to take your dog to a veterinarian immediately, and the reasons come down to how quills behave once they are in the skin. [1]
Why quills are hard to get out
Porcupines cannot shoot or throw their quills, Cornell explains, but the quills are designed to detach easily on contact. [1] They are hollow, lightweight, about 2 to 3 inches long, and have backward-facing barbs along the shaft. That makes them easy to pierce tissue but difficult to remove without help, and they won’t fall out on their own. [1]
Free-roaming, large-breed dogs are most often affected, and the face is a common area. [1]
What to do right away
Cornell’s advice: [1]
- Take your dog to a veterinarian immediately for safe removal.
- Do not try to remove the quills yourself. It can be painful, cause the quills to break, or push them deeper into the skin.
- Keep your dog calm and still, and try to stop rubbing or pawing at the quills. If you have one, an Elizabethan collar (cone) can help protect the face.
- Never cut the quills. This can make them harder to remove and increase the risk of embedding or migrating.
Timing matters. In a study of the hospital records of 296 porcupine quill injuries in dogs, a longer time between the injury and arriving at the clinic was linked to a higher risk of complications. The number of quills was not linked to the risk of complications. [2] The authors wrote that owners “should be strongly encouraged to bring the dog in as soon as the quill injury is discovered.” [2]
How vets remove quills
Cornell says most dogs need sedation or anesthesia for complete quill removal. The vet grasps each quill at its base and removes it with gentle traction, then examines the whole body, including the mouth, throat, chest and legs, for hidden or embedded quills. A small incision is sometimes needed for deeply embedded quills. [1]
Infection is uncommon if quills are removed quickly, but antibiotics may be prescribed if quills have been in for more than a day or if incisions were needed. Pain medicine is often given afterwards, and most dogs go home the same day. [1]
Watching for a migrating quill
Some quills can stay under the skin if they break or are missed during removal. Cornell says these can migrate days or weeks later, causing swelling, discomfort, infection or pain. [1] In the 296-injury study, the authors advised that dogs brought in after 24 hours be monitored closely during the first 3 weeks after injury, as most complications occurred during that time. [2]
Migrating quills can occasionally reach deeper areas:
- Chest. A study of 25 dogs from 2 practices in New England that developed air leaking around the lungs (pneumothorax) after a porcupine encounter found that they most often showed labored or fast breathing. Most had surgery, quills were found in the lung tissue of 19 dogs, and all 25 survived to go home, though 5 needed further quill removal because quills kept migrating. [3]
- Eyes. A study of 17 eyes from 17 dogs with quill injuries, held in an eye pathology archive, found that the time from quilling to eye signs may be prolonged, from weeks to years, and that any dog with eye signs and a past porcupine encounter should be checked carefully for a quill in the eye. [4] See also eye discharge and red eyes in dogs.
Cornell notes that in rare situations migrating quills have been found in the lungs, heart and spinal cord, with serious consequences, including death. Seeking veterinary help right after the injury greatly lowers the risk of migration. [1]
When to see your vet
- Right away after any porcupine encounter, even if you see only a few quills. [1]
- After removal, contact your vet if you notice swelling, lameness, drooling, lethargy, difficulty eating or trouble breathing. [1]
- Any new eye problem in a dog that has ever been quilled. [4]
Preventing repeat encounters
Porcupines are mostly active at night or at dawn and dusk, especially in wooded or rural areas. [1] Cornell recommends keeping dogs leashed or supervised at those times, avoiding wooded or brushy areas, and working on reliable recall so dogs do not chase wildlife. [1] Most dogs do not learn from experience, and repeat quilling injuries are very common. [1]
FAQ
Can I pull the quills out myself?
Cornell advises against it: it can be painful and can break the quills or push them deeper. [1]
Should I cut the quills to make them easier to pull?
No. Cornell says cutting can make them harder to remove and increase the risk of embedding or migrating. [1]
Does my dog need a rabies booster?
Cornell says rabies has not been reported in porcupines, and a booster is not necessarily required after a quilling unless there is some other reason. Dogs should be kept up to date on rabies vaccination. [1]
What is the outlook?
Most dogs have an excellent prognosis and recover fully with prompt veterinary care and quill removal. [1]
The bottom line
Porcupine quills are barbed, do not fall out on their own and can break or travel deeper if pulled or cut at home. Keep your dog calm, go to a vet promptly for removal under sedation, and watch for swelling, lameness, drooling, eating trouble or breathing problems in the weeks after.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog has been quilled by a porcupine, please see your veterinarian.
Sources
- Cohen A. Porcupine quill injuries in dogs. Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (last updated Oct 27, 2025). https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/porcupine-quill-injuries-in-dogs
- Johnson MD, Magnusson KD, Shmon CL, Waldner C. Porcupine quill injuries in dogs: a retrospective of 296 cases (1998-2002). Can Vet J. 2006;47(7):677-682. PMID 16898110. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16898110/
- Sevy JJ, Gottlieb L, Vaught M, Rozanski E. Porcupine quilling-associated pneumothorax in dogs: 25 cases (2001-2022). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2023;261(4):505-509. PMID 36701222. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36701222/
- Shank AMM, Teixeira LBC, Dubielzig RR. Ocular porcupine quilling in dogs: gross, clinical and histopathologic findings in 17 cases (1986-2018). Vet Ophthalmol. 2021;24(2):114-124. PMID 33332752. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33332752/