Dog that got porcupine quills in his mouth
The skin is surrounded by real spines, although, it is possible to find some fine hairs among them. The spines are actually modified hair, evolved as a defense mechanism. The face, belly, and tail tip do not show any spines.
Any animal getting involved in a fight with a porcupine, most likely is going to lose. Even if the porcupine dies, the attacker will probably die too. This is because the spines can migrate to different organs like oral cavity, neck, legs, or wherever the opponent was in contact, causing deadly infections.
It is a myth that the porcupine can dart its spines at will. Actually, there has to be some moving force for them to fall off; it could be a bite or a slap from the paw attacker.
It is a nocturnal rodent, sleeps in tree trunks during the day, and at night, feeds himself with leaves, and the fruits they truly enjoy. It is common to find these animals roaming around and through the gardens of our homes. They are in potential danger of being attacked by our pets. If this happens, it is necessary to get the spines out one by one usually under general anesthesia.
In conclusion, the porcupine is a non-aggressive animal, but being attacked by him or his spines, can cause serious injury. It is another endangered species. We must protect it and preserve it for future generations.
