Does her beak need trimmed?

[leigti]

I think my box turtles beak may be too long. I have filed it down a little bit but do I need to do more? I used a wooden nail file.[let me know if you need another angle shot.
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[wellington]

If it's easy for you to do, I would. If not, then make sure you are feeding her on a ruff flat surface and that the food is not piled up, so she has to scrap,her freak on the rock to get up the food.

 

[leigti]

If it's easy for you to do, I would. If not, then make sure you are feeding her on a ruff flat surface and that the food is not piled up, so she has to scrap,her freak on the rock to get up the food.

It is relatively easy for me to do. I just don't want to make it too short. Does anybody have some close-up pictures of their box turtle so I can compare? She is not eating much which is the problem. I do have her food on a terra-cotta saucer. I will spread it out more instead of putting it in a pile.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Her beak us way too long and she seems to have an overbite. You may not be able to get it to an ideal shape if her face is deformed.

 

[leigti]

Her beak us way too long and she seems to have an overbite. You may not be able to get it to an ideal shape if her face is deformed.

Oh no, I didn't realize that. her beak was really long when I Gotter and I've been working on it a little here and there. So what do you suggest?

 

[leigti]

Is that one of the reasons she's not eating as much? Should I change the stuff I'm free dinner? Sorry I'm just freaking out a little bit here.

 

[Eric Phillips]

Is that one of the reasons she's not eating as much? Should I change the stuff I'm free dinner? Sorry I'm just freaking out a little bit here.

Very well could be... whats her diet like? She getting foods high in Vitamin A?

 

[johnsonnboswell]

All you can do is give her the good care now she didn't get before. I can't upload a pic of a normal beak at present, sorry. Smooth out the wavy bit and get it as short as you can without creating new problems. Do it in increments. Meanwhile, make sure she has cuttlebone, offer a variety of foods, and make sure she has proper substrate that holds moisture @ a UVB light. Breathe. She'll be okay.

 

[leigti]

Okay I'm breezing why didn't somebody tell me this before? The vet never said anything and I've posted some pictures over here. I can't see well enough to tell the details I guess of how the beak should look. She has not touched her cuttlebone of course. I scrape it onto her food including the worms when she does eat them.I don't really know anything about her previous care, I haven't had her that long. I doubt she is getting enough vitamins A because I can't get her to eat fruits and vegetables and greens. she's got the UV, heat, and moist substrate. should I take her to the vet to have her beak trimmed? I don't want her to have any vitamin injections because I hear that that can kill your tortoise and I'm assuming your Boxturtle too.

 

[leigti]

I'm going to get a pumpkin tomorrow, I had already planned on it so that I can grind up the seeds as a natural dewormer. I will great some up for her see if she will eat it. That should get some vitamin a into her, maybe she will like it better than the carrots and sweet potato I've given her before.I will keep filing down the beach as good as I can but I may make a appointment with the vet so they can do a more precise and thorough job. I feel absolutely terrible. I feel like I let her down by not knowing that she had more of a problem than just a long beak. I know tortoises do just fine with underbites and overbites but I still feel terrible.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Don't beat yourself up. You are learning as you go and doing what needs to be done. Your vet didn't give you good guidance, either.

 

[Moozillion]

Leigti- I agree with johnnsonboswell- don't beat yourself up!
One of my favorite quotes is from the late, great Maya Angelou: "Do the best you can, and when you know better, do better." We all have a steep learning curve at the beginning- I bet your turtle does just fine!

 

[Eric Phillips]

I absolutely agree with johnsonboswell and moozillion, your doing a great job.

 

[leigti]

I absolutely agree with johnsonboswell and moozillion, your doing a great job.

I really do appreciate everybody's support. I feel like I've done well except for her diet, the fact that she doesn't eat much of anything. And I had no idea that she had problems with her jaw and not just the beak. So I feel like I'm not doing a good job right now. it is difficult when you get animals that come to you with issues. I just hope I can help them.

 

[terryo]

 

[terryo]

Sorry, I didn't know how to put a post with the picture . It came up too fast. I would take her to a vet and let him trim the beak and get a good exam. I know how you feel. I've gotten a few that were brought up in such bad conditions. All we can do is our best for them.

 

[leigti]

Sorry, I didn't know how to put a post with the picture . It came up too fast. I would take her to a vet and let him trim the beak and get a good exam. I know how you feel. I've gotten a few that were brought up in such bad conditions. All we can do is our best for them.

Thank you. I'm going to keep this picture and show it to the vet. My vet is is good and definitely tries and is willing to research, refer her out, ask questions, but sometimes I wish we had somebody that was a true reptile specialist.

 

[leigti]

Okay, she goes to the vet tomorrow for a beak trim, nail trim, and to be checked for worms.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Don't let him give vitamin A shots.

 

[leigti]

Don't let him give vitamin A shots.

Don't worry I won't. I won't let them give her any shots. I have heard that the vitamin shots can be dangerous.