How to Get Quills Out of a Dog's Nose

While porcupines aren't deadly animals, they can injure curious pets and people alike. If your dog has an unpleasant run-in with a porcupine, you'll need to know how to remove the sharp quills from various parts of her body. Quills in a dog's nose or muzzle need quick removal because they may constrict or limit breathing. Always bring your dog to a vet if you doubt your ability to safely treat the animal.

Things You'll Need

  • Needle-nose pliers or foreceps
  • One or more assistants
  • Leash
  • Treats
  • Iodine
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Instructions

    • 1

      Assess your dog's injury. If there are only a few quills in the dog's nose and she seems fairly calm, you will be able to remove them without incident. With more quills in multiple places or strange discoloration, swelling, or bleeding, take your dog to the vet immediately.

    • 2

      Restrain your dog by tying her leash to a post or sturdy object and wrapping your arm around her neck so she is less likely to bite you. No matter how calm your dog usually is, under stress she could lash out. Have more than one person hold the dog down if she's large or especially anxious.

    • 3

      Grasp the quills as close to the skin as possible with your forceps or needle nose pliers. Slowly but steadily pull the quill straight out. If the quill breaks off, you'll need to bring the animal to the vet for a more invasive procedure.

    • 4

      Check the dog's face and body for quills you may have missed. Sometimes porcupine quills are less than an inch long and may be difficult to spot.

    • 5

      Disinfect the injured areas with iodine or another disinfectant to prevent infection.

    • 6

      Observe your dog daily for at least five days to check for swelling, bleeding or signs of pain.