[header] How to remove porcupine quills [title] Treat the animal promptly. [step] Porcupine quills are much less likely to cause lasting harm if they are removed from the animal within the first 24 hours. Animals that are treated during that period almost always make a full recovery. 
Delayed treatment, on the other hand, increases the chance of complications such as broken quill tips, eye or joint damage, and infection. Dogs that have quills in their mouth region may not be able to eat until they are removed.