OTHER DIAGNOSES CONSIDERED
Other conditions or ailments that might also need to be ruled out by a vet.
Diagnosis
Conditions or ailments that are the cause of a problem that you see - your observation.
Your vet may diagnose
Porcupine Quills, Quilled
Summary
In forested regions of the United States porcupine quills embedded in the skin are a common equine emergency. Curious horses sniff these slow moving creatures. In defense, porcupines often slap their tails or quickly roll their bodies, dislodging quills into the horse's skin. (They do not "shoot" these quills.) The quills have barbed shafts and are difficult to remove. Most quilling of horses, involves the face or lower limbs.
my vet's role
Diagnostics Used
These are tests that might be helpful to make this diagnosis or further characterize the condition.
Treatments May Include
These treatments might be used to help resolve or improve this condition.
Less Common
PROGNOSIS AND RELEVANT FACTORS
Excellent provided the quills are promptly removed and did not puncture a vital structure (joint or tendon sheath), or result in infection.my role
I might observe
You might make these observations when a horse has this condition.
Skills I Might Need
I might need these skills if my horse has this diagnosis.
further reading & resources
Helpful Terms and Topics
Written, reviewed or shared by experts in equine health
