Porcupine Quills: What to Do and What Not to Do

A common encounter on plots and farms

Porcupines are widespread across South Africa and dogs investigate them. The porcupine does not throw quills — it reverses hard into the threat, and the quills detach on contact.

Quills are barbed. Under muscle movement they migrate inwards rather than working their way out, which is why this is not a wait-and-see injury.

Do not pull them out

Pulling snaps the quill, leaving the barbed portion buried where it will migrate. It is also extremely painful, and a dog in that much pain will bite the person they love most.

The exception is a quill directly obstructing the airway or eye where you have no choice. Otherwise leave them.

Do not cut the quills either. The old advice that cutting them deflates and loosens them is a myth, and it makes the vet’s job of gripping them harder.

Getting there safely

Muzzle the dog if you can do so without pressing on quills — a soft lead or strip of fabric wrapped around the snout will do. A dog in this state will snap reflexively.

Keep the dog as still as possible. Every movement drives quills deeper. Carry rather than walk them if the dog is small enough.

Do not let the dog paw at its face in the car. Quills in the mouth and paws are the most common combination and pawing pushes both further in.

What happens at the vet

Quill removal is done under general anaesthetic in almost every case. The vet needs to remove each one whole, check the mouth and throat, and search for quills that have already begun migrating.

Expect roughly R3,500 to R9,000 depending on the number of quills and the anaesthetic time. Extensive facial involvement runs higher.

Antibiotics and pain relief follow, because quills carry bacteria inwards with them.

Afterwards

Watch for swellings appearing days or weeks later, anywhere on the body. A migrating quill fragment can surface far from where it entered, including in the chest or abdomen.

Any new abscess or lump after a porcupine encounter should be assumed to be a quill until proven otherwise.

Dogs frequently repeat the encounter. If you are on a plot or farm with porcupines, this is a reason to bring dogs in at night.