Seemed it never failed whenever I took my dog Amos, out for a walk in the woods he would on at least one occassion return to me with porcupine quills in his face and mouth.
It become a habit to carry plyers in my back pocket, to be ready should this happen to save him suffering the whole trip back home again.
When Amos was injured in this manner, I first talked soothingly to him, so that the he would calm down. It helped me to recover my composure as well, for it was upsetting for me to see Amos, in pain.
I would remove my shirt or jacket and place it over his body and head, and then straddled his body, and held him still with my knees. Continuing to talk softly to Amos, I would pull out the quills in his nose out first, as this area is the most sensitive and then start on the ones in his cheeks and mouth.
After pulling each quill I would reinforce his good behavior by praising him and letting him know what a brave dog he was in letting me help him.
After the first few times, he didn't get any smarter about leaving porcupines alone, but he would come back and sit quietly and allow me to pull out the quills.
Has your dog ever had a run in with a porcupine?
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One Prickly Poked Dog 
