Home Remedies for Dogs With Porcupine Quills

You'd think one nose full of quills would be enough to put any dog off of her curiosity about porcupines. But some dogs never learn. If your dog is covered in quills, take her to the vet. But if she comes home with just a few prickles, you can try to remove them yourself. What to Do About It If your dog's snout gets converted into some porcupine's pincushion, get yourself some rubber gloves, a pair of needle-nose pliers, a dose of courage, and a strong-willed assistant to help you hold the dog. There's nothing pretty about the procedure, and there are no easy shortcuts. Just grasp each quill near the point of entry and pull straight out. Try not to break any quills; they'll be harder to remove, and any part of the quill left behind can encourage infection. Once you're done removing quills from a dog, apply a topical antiseptic to the affected area. When to Call the Vet If you're leery about pulling quills out of a dog yourself, bring the animal to your vet. If the dog has taken a large number of quills, or if the quills are embedded in tricky or painful places (inside the dog's mouth, for instance) she will likely need sedation or even anesthesia.