A 3.5‐year‐old Australian shepherd dog referred for the exploration and management of an intrathoracic sewing needle. The animal had a history of cardiovascular collapse the previous day. On presentation, the dog was asymptomatic, bright, alert and responsive. Computed tomography scan and echocardiography confirmed the presence of a sewing needle in the heart, with moderate pericardial and bilateral pleural effusions. Using careful blind palpation of the heart after sternotomy, the sewing needle was pushed through the myocardium and retrieved without haemorrhage. Recovery was uneventful and the dog returned to full exercise. This case report describes the migration of a sewing needle into the heart from an unspecified origin, an atypical removal, and a good postoperative outcome in a 3.5‐year‐old Australian shepherd dog.