Todayโs path rounds are on ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ! This post inspired by my silly baby horse who keeps trying to make friends with spiky kitties 
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ are modified hairs with thick layers of ๐ค๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง, the same fibrous protein that makes up scales, fingernails, hooves and claws. Porcupines use these quills to deter predators from attacking them.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Any species can get this, however we most commonly see porcupine quill incidents in dogs!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
When the animal interacts with the porcupine, the porcupine will raise its quills to make them more accessible to their attacker. The attacking animal will brush against these quills, causing them to embed into their skin. Porcupine quills have barbs on their tips which anchor them in the skin, and make their removal quite difficult.
๐ ๐ฎ๐ง ๐๐๐๐ญ: Studies have shown that porcupine quills require half the force of a typical hypodermic needle to penetrate the skin!
๐๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ง ๐๐๐๐ญ: Contrary to common belief, porcupines cannot shoot their quills at an attacker!
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
Because of the barbs, these quills have a tendency to move inward, rather than simply fall out of the tissue. Not only does this make porcupine quills difficult to remove, but it can also cause significant issues if the quill is left in place. Over time, the quills migrate inward, and can end up embedded in internal organs, leading to infections, formation of abscesses, and in some cases significant organ failure. These quills can even end up in the heart!
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Any animal with quills should be seen by a veterinarian, to ensure that the quills are removed properly and completely under anesthesia. This is particularly important in dogs, as they tend to bite porcupines. This means that quills can end up in their mouth, gums, under their tongue, and even go down into their esophagus!
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1) What I woke up to this morningโฆ Donโt kick porcupines Ducky! 
2-3) Canids with porcupine quills on their noses.
4) A porcupine quill that went into an EYE. Ouch!!!
5) A porcupine quill that made its way into the heart.
6-7) Porcupine quills in the stomach and esophagus.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Weir M. Porcupine quills in dogs and their dangers. VCA Animal Hospital.
Photos 2-7 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributors Dhein, Jakowski, Carpenter, King licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
