Overview

Porcupine quilling injuries happen when a dog encounters a porcupine and gets sharp, barbed quills embedded in their skin. 

North American porcupines are common in wooded and rural areas. While they are not aggressive, they defend themselves with their quills and tail when threatened. Porcupines cannot shoot or throw their quills, but the quills are designed to detach easily on contact. Because of their barbed design, quills penetrate tissue easily, but they are harder to remove and won’t fall out on their own.

Free-roaming, large-breed dogs are most often affected. If quills are not removed promptly, they may break or migrate deeper into tissues, causing more serious problems. Keeping dogs on a leash, especially in wooded areas at night when porcupines are most active, helps prevent encounters.

How serious are porcupine quill injuries?

Getting quilled by a porcupine is painful. Quills are hollow, lightweight, about 2-3 inches long and have backward-facing barbs along the shaft that make them easy to pierce tissue but difficult to remove without assistance. 

If not treated quickly, quills can migrate deeper into the body, causing pain, swelling, infection, or even reaching joints, eyes, the chest cavity, or vital organs like the heart or lungs. Prompt removal by a veterinarian greatly reduces these risks.

What should you do if your dog gets quilled by a porcupine?

Take your dog to a veterinarian immediately for safe removal. 

Do not attempt to remove the quills yourself, as it can be painful, cause the quills to break, or push deeper into the skin. 

Keep your dog calm and still and try to prevent rubbing or pawing at the quills. If available, using an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) can help protect the face, which is a common area affected.

Never cut the quills, as this can make them harder to remove and increase the risk of embedding or migrating. 

How are porcupine quills removed and treated? 

Most dogs need sedation or anesthesia for complete quill removal. Your veterinarian will carefully grasp each quill at its base and remove it with gentle traction. They will also examine your dog’s entire body, including the mouth, throat, chest and legs, for hidden or embedded quills. In some cases, a small incision may be needed to remove deeply embedded quills. 

Infection is uncommon if quills are removed quickly, but antibiotics may be prescribed if quills have been present for more than a day or if incisions are required to remove embedded quills. 

Pain medications like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) are often given after quill removal to help manage discomfort. Most dogs go home the same day after the procedure.

What should I monitor for at home after porcupine quills are removed?

Some quills may remain under the skin if they break or are embedded and go unnoticed during removal. These can migrate days or weeks later, causing swelling, discomfort, infection, or pain. 

Contact your veterinarian if you notice swelling, lameness, drooling, lethargy, difficulty eating, or trouble breathing. 

Should I be concerned about rabies if my dog gets quilled by a porcupine?

Rabies has not been reported in porcupines. While all dogs should be kept up to date on rabies vaccinations, a rabies booster is not necessarily required after a quilling incident unless there is some other indication. 

What is the prognosis after my dog gets quilled? 

Most dogs have an excellent prognosis and recover fully with prompt veterinary care and quill removal. 

Quills can migrate under the skin and move deeper within the body. This is more common after severe or heavy quilling incidents, especially if they are not treated quickly. More complex surgery is often needed to remove migrated quills, depending on the location in the body. In rare situations, migrating quills have been found in the lungs, heart and spinal cord, and cause serious consequences, including death. 

Seeking veterinary help right after the quilling injury greatly lowers the risk of migration. 

How can I help prevent my dog from getting quilled by a porcupine?

Keep dogs leashed or supervised, especially at dawn, dusk, or nighttime. Avoid wooded or brushy areas and work on reliable recall to prevent chasing wildlife. 

Unfortunately, most dogs do not learn from experience, and repeat quilling injuries are very common. Always seek veterinary care promptly if a quilling injury occurs.