Bent and damaged quill in visor

[Raindog]

Quinn has a bent quill in his visor. Before it was slightly bent forward and gave him a bit of a jaunty look. Now however it has bent more from him burrowing under his liners and what not, and is just about touching his nose. I brush it back whenever I am holding him but I am getting worried he may hurt himself on it. I don't want him to poke his nose and I am especially worried about his eyes. I know I shouldn't clip it and I keep waiting for it to fall out but so far no luck. Any ideas on what to do?

 

[Kalandra]

Normally you shouldn't clip quills, but its my opinion that if one is causing a problem it needs to go. The problem with clipping head quill's is that very fast duck reaction that hedgehog's have. However, if you can safely get to it without hurting Quinn, then clip it. It may not grow back or if it does it may take a very long time.

I've not seen one that curled forward into their nose before though. All the ones who have had a curly quill here have had their quills curl backwards into their quill coat. Usually they don't cause a problem, but I have had to clip them before. I had one who had her curly quill for about 3 years, then I found it one day in her bed. It was an all white quill, quite likely the only all white quill she had. I still have it in a small cup that resides next to her urn.

I'd love to see Quinn's curly quill.

 

[smhufflepuff]

I've had the opposite with Satin - she had her little shark quill that bent away from her body such that when she was relaxed and her quills lay flat against her body, the distal part of her bent quill stuck straight up. She had a few along her quill line near her tail that were quite curly-q'ed. They eventually fell out and were replaced by "normal" ones. But that "eventually" was measured in years. So I wouldn't hold out too much hope that Quinn's will fall out anytime soon.

If it's posing a danger, I'd vote for clipping it too. But take a good long look at how it will function once clipped... Take a look at him when he balls up and try to picture how that quill will look, where it will go, what it might poke if it was shorter. Try to figure that out if you just took 1mm off; 2mm; 3mm... Will it make it better? Worse? At what length?

Unlike hair, you don't exactly get a do-over. If you go too short, it's not going to grow out. And you definitely don't want to pluck it (yow!!!).

 

[Raindog]

Here are some pictures. (It is that white one) I am not sure what to do. I am worried about him hurting himself and I am worried about hurting him if I clip it. If I do need to clip the quill, what should I use? I am also worried about it not clipping cleanly the first time around.

 

[smhufflepuff]

Oh gosh. Wow... Seems like clipping it might even pose more of a risk depending on the length left over. Looks like, right now, it goes past his eye. But if you clipped it, it might end right at the level of his eye... unless you clipped it very, very short.

I can definitely appreciate how you'd be *really* hoping it would fall out on its own. I know that's what I'd be hoping for.

For whatever reason, Tex has a quill up front that looks like it was clipped off rather close to where it grows out of his brow. Little guy is a rescue, so who knows what happened to him and it. He seems just fine with his little stub.

Perhaps Quinn could use a little stub of his own? Will be interesting to hear what others have to say now that we can see it.

If you make the decision to clip, I'd wait until he's really chill and allowing you to manipulate his quills without quilling up or jerking away and use nail clippers.

 

[Kalandra]

I'd go for as short as you can with it and nail clippers may be the safest for clipping it off cleaning and not poking him. Or if you plan to take him into see a veterinarian soon, wait and have the vet clip it.

He does look like he may be a bit defensive about the matter though, so it may take a lot of time and patience on your part to even get near the quill.

 

[LovinHedgies]

I would clip it! That looks like a dangerous quill!! If he is not cooperative, I would take him to the vet and have it done there - better than a poked eye or face! Good luck

 

[Raindog]

We did it! I thought for sure I would have to take Quinn to the vet because he wasn't letting me near his face with the clippers. Then we had a brilliant idea. Quinn loves my boyfriends hair so I had him hold Quinnie up to his head and when he was lost in anointing I was able to sneak in and clip that quill. Teamwork! Is there anything special I shold do to care for Quinn's little stub?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[smhufflepuff]

How much hair is your boyfriend missing now?

Quinn's little quill stub should be okay on its own. As an obsessive hedgiemommy, I'd probably take a look at it from time to time just in case... though I can't imagine what the "just in case" would be. It's not like it's apt to become infected or anything. So, mostly, I'd be looking to reassure myself that all is well.

My guess is your little guy doesn't even notice a difference.

 

[LovinHedgies]

Hurray for teamwork!!!