Does this look concerning?

deee-deee

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Hey all..
Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

2 issues i'd love anyones thoughts on.

Firstly - I just noticed the side of George's mouth looks like it has a laceration. Not sure if it needs to be looked at by a vet / treated? Thoughts?
Incl. in pics is the other side of his face for reference.

Also would love some thoughts...
He has seemed really stressed the last few days - not sure if its related / he's in pain. He seemed to have gone into a mild brumation (if that is even a thing) and just got up last week.
He was doing great, eating, loving his outdoor enclosure, but the last few days - he seems to be stressed - outdoor (altho not as bad) and when I bring him in at night, he is clawing to get out, pacing etc. i've found him flipped over twice now
Note - I also recently got a bearded dragon 3 weeks ago and the terrariums are next to each other but visually blocked - thinking this could be a reason as well

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Yvonne G

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The beak is badly overgrown! When he bite now he's putting a whole lot of pressure on parts of his face that don't usually get pressure. Consequently, the beak has cracked up into the flesh on his face. This is VERY painful. Imagine if you broke a fingernail clear down into the underlying flesh and in order to eat you had to continually push on that sore finger. He needs to see someone who knows how to trim severely overgrown beaks immediately because he can't bite off his food until it's fixed.
 

deee-deee

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The beak is badly overgrown! When he bite now he's putting a whole lot of pressure on parts of his face that don't usually get pressure. Consequently, the beak has cracked up into the flesh on his face. This is VERY painful. Imagine if you broke a fingernail clear down into the underlying flesh and in order to eat you had to continually push on that sore finger. He needs to see someone who knows how to trim severely overgrown beaks immediately because he can't bite off his food until it's fixed.

Yikes, i'm calling to take him in somewhere now. How does this happen?
 

wellington

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Ditto on his beak being badly over grown.
The stress/pacing could be due to going outside and then having to come back inside. They hate that. The beardie shouldn't have any affect seeing they can't see each other
 

deee-deee

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Ditto on his beak being badly over grown.
The stress/pacing could be due to going outside and then having to come back inside. They hate that. The beardie shouldn't have any affect seeing they can't see each other
Oh really? Been doing this over 9 months, he has always seemed happy / no issues.

Just spoke to vet - sent a pic..you are correct
Any tips on how to avoid this?
 

wellington

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Oh really? Been doing this over 9 months, he has always seemed happy / no issues.

Just spoke to vet - sent a pic..you are correct
Any tips on how to avoid this?
He just got done with a mild brumation you said. That could play a part. They brumate during the cold and wake when its warmer, in the wild. The brumation may have caused him to now want to be out in the warmth. It's a guess as I can't read his mind nor can he talk to me. Would be easy if they could lol.
It could be the problem and pain with his beak.
My russian acts like you described when I have to bring him in for winter. After a week or so he settles in. In the spring when the days are warm but nights still cold and I bring him in and out, he does it again.
Only way to stop it is too keep him outside all the time, inside all the time but not recommended or if possible keep him out until its late enough that he would tuck in for the night when you bring him in.
 

deee-deee

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Usually from feeding soft foods he doesn't have to bite, or cutting up his food so he doesn't use his beak to bite.
I'm feeding him a big variety of dark leafy greens, weeds, he has a cuttlebone, calcium supplement. I never cut any of it up. I just got back from the vet and I feel sick at how much was trimmed from his beak, how long it was and how it should have been.. ugh. I rescued him 9 months ago and it had always looked like that :( Any other recs on what I can offer food wise to avoid this from happening. Thank you for all your feedback and info, and for being so kind about it
 

deee-deee

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Just got back from the vet...
They trimmed his beak and he did great, he is so much happier already! And he is actually not a he... he is a she!!! I'm stickin with George tho! hehe

The vet said it was REALLY long and likely from his.. I mean her.. diet.
I rescued him 9 months ago, he was really neglected and was left alone for weeks at a time. I knew nothing about any type of reptile, had never really come more than 10 feet from one lol. I did tons and tons of research and have worked so hard to make him the best and most optimal home. I've been feeding him a large variety of dark leafy greens and weed, supplements, cuttlebones. None cut up. Not sure what i'm not offering that would help avoid this from happening in the future.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions... and for not ripping me apart on this obvious oversight on my part - I feel like a terrible Tortie mama :(

i'm honestly so grateful for this forum. <3

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Krista S

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Good for you, for getting this taken care of so quickly! Try not to be too hard on yourself. You didn’t know, but now you do. It sounds like feeding wise, you’re doing things right. I think the beak was just so overgrown that the typical preventative measures could never be enough. Another thing you can do is give him his food on a piece of slate or something similar. Their beak often makes contact when eating off these porous surfaces and helps keeps the beak trim too.
 

Krista S

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Just got back from the vet...
They trimmed his beak and he did great, he is so much happier already! And he is actually not a he... he is a she!!! I'm stickin with George tho! hehe

The vet said it was REALLY long and likely from his.. I mean her.. diet.
I rescued him 9 months ago, he was really neglected and was left alone for weeks at a time. I knew nothing about any type of reptile, had never really come more than 10 feet from one lol. I did tons and tons of research and have worked so hard to make him the best and most optimal home. I've been feeding him a large variety of dark leafy greens and weed, supplements, cuttlebones. None cut up. Not sure what i'm not offering that would help avoid this from happening in the future.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions... and for not ripping me apart on this obvious oversight on my part - I feel like a terrible Tortie mama :(

i'm honestly so grateful for this forum. <3
Wow, what a difference! He...errr she looks great! Almost looks like she’s got a little smile now. ? Thanks for sharing the new pic. George (maybe Georgina?) is lucky to have you looking after her.
 

deee-deee

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Good for you, for getting this taken care of so quickly! Try not to be too hard on yourself. You didn’t know, but now you do. It sounds like feeding wise, you’re doing things right. I think the beak was just so overgrown that the typical preventative measures could never be enough. Another thing you can do is give him his food on a piece of slate or something similar. Their beak often makes contact when eating off these porous surfaces and helps keeps the beak trim too.
Thank you!
 

Yvonne G

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Just got back from the vet...
They trimmed his beak and he did great, he is so much happier already! And he is actually not a he... he is a she!!! I'm stickin with George tho! hehe

The vet said it was REALLY long and likely from his.. I mean her.. diet.
I rescued him 9 months ago, he was really neglected and was left alone for weeks at a time. I knew nothing about any type of reptile, had never really come more than 10 feet from one lol. I did tons and tons of research and have worked so hard to make him the best and most optimal home. I've been feeding him a large variety of dark leafy greens and weed, supplements, cuttlebones. None cut up. Not sure what i'm not offering that would help avoid this from happening in the future.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions... and for not ripping me apart on this obvious oversight on my part - I feel like a terrible Tortie mama :(

i'm honestly so grateful for this forum. <3

View attachment 316225
OMG!!! What a difference! You did a good thing, Deeee!!

See if you can find a broken piece of cement to feed her on. Scraping her beak against the cement as she bites at the food helps keep the beak trimmed.
 

harrythetortoise

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She looks so much cuter and happier now! Great job!
 

Harry and Greta

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Just got back from the vet...
They trimmed his beak and he did great, he is so much happier already! And he is actually not a he... he is a she!!! I'm stickin with George tho! hehe

The vet said it was REALLY long and likely from his.. I mean her.. diet.
I rescued him 9 months ago, he was really neglected and was left alone for weeks at a time. I knew nothing about any type of reptile, had never really come more than 10 feet from one lol. I did tons and tons of research and have worked so hard to make him the best and most optimal home. I've been feeding him a large variety of dark leafy greens and weed, supplements, cuttlebones. None cut up. Not sure what i'm not offering that would help avoid this from happening in the future.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions... and for not ripping me apart on this obvious oversight on my part - I feel like a terrible Tortie mama :(

i'm honestly so grateful for this forum. <3

View attachment 316225
So glad she/he is doing better!!

I had no idea an overgrown beak was a possibility either, so thanks so much for posting about this - always good to be aware of what could go wrong!

Hopefully now they had a trim they can get back to being a happy tort! ?
 

traciey2kbabe

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Ah she looks fab now. A tip for helping keep beaks short is a piece of slate for them to feed from. Slate helps keep their beak short!

Just got back from the vet...
They trimmed his beak and he did great, he is so much happier already! And he is actually not a he... he is a she!!! I'm stickin with George tho! hehe

The vet said it was REALLY long and likely from his.. I mean her.. diet.
I rescued him 9 months ago, he was really neglected and was left alone for weeks at a time. I knew nothing about any type of reptile, had never really come more than 10 feet from one lol. I did tons and tons of research and have worked so hard to make him the best and most optimal home. I've been feeding him a large variety of dark leafy greens and weed, supplements, cuttlebones. None cut up. Not sure what i'm not offering that would help avoid this from happening in the future.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions... and for not ripping me apart on this obvious oversight on my part - I feel like a terrible Tortie mama :(

i'm honestly so grateful for this forum. <3

View attachment 316225
 
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