Tortoise refusing beak trim, what will help?

[LudusPlus]

Hello

Duncan went to the vets yesterday. He got very distressed and weed everywhere, she managed to get his nails clipped but he wouldn't move his head.

Today we left him with the vet (she is a specialist who cares for her own tortoises, and has said Duncan is in fine health otherwise so I was not worried of any wrong health care) from 9am-4pm so he could hang out in their enclosure. He chilled out, ate some dandelions and got comfy.

She only got a small amount of the beak off before he got angry and started trying to eat her tools and wouldn't give them back. I'm on my way to pick him up now and going to schedule a 3rd appointment, none of this is costing me anything apart from the first payment (£47 for nail and beak if anyones interested).

In-between these appointments is there anything I can do? Duncan is NEVER distressed around strange people but I think the transportation and strange vet smells really upset him I don't believe I can help this, but are there any safe foods I can frequently feed that'll keep the beak trim?

After the third appointment hopefully he gets trimmed but after that I want to keep it all natural because he clearly is very angry with me messing him around.

I will show a picture so you can see why vet intervention was necessary. I got Duncan when his beak looked like this for context this wasn't my care. Pic is him after bath because he weed a lot and needed to rehydrate. Like I mean he very much peed all over the vetinery floor and office. I fed him a slice of cucumber too as a treat.

Will share pics of any progress the vet has made.

 

[jsheffield]

With a couple of the Russian rescues I've brought home, I needed to trim their beaks and have had good luck with the scissor-type of toenail clippers, or a dremel tool.

Jamie

 

[LudusPlus]

View attachment 361960

With a couple of the Russian rescues I've brought home, I needed to trim their beaks and have had good luck with the scissor-type of toenail clippers, or a dremel tool.

Jamie

Thankyou, if the vet fails for a third time I will do this myself.

I am just scared because I've never done it before and the overhang is massive. He's comfy around me though so might be the only option

 

[jsheffield]

Thankyou, if the vet fails for a third time I will do this myself.

I am just scared because I've never done it before and the overhang is massive. He's comfy around me though so might be the only option

It's a bit scary the first time, but the truth is that with avoiding the stress of the car-ride and vet and vet-techs handling the tort, it's likely much better for the tort if you can manage it.

J

 

[Tom]

She only got a small amount of the beak off before he got angry and started trying to eat her tools and wouldn't give them back.

Is this what the vet said, or is this your take on what is happening?

 

[Yvonne G]

The thing is, don't try to take it all off in one bite. Just do little bites at a time, clip, clip, clipping around the beak.

But after looking at the picture I think you would have better luck with a Dremmel.

 

[LudusPlus]

Is this what the vet said, or is this your take on what is happening?

Yes, she said he took the tool into his mouth. I think she was clipping small parts and then smoothing it with a file, but after he bit the file she figured she may damage some internal parts of the mouth so she stopped.

He can't have been super stressed out because she fed him dandelions, which he's never had before, and he ate them. It's just when she went for the beak he's having none of it. I also don't doubt that she knows what she's doing, I just have a little guy who's gone through a lot of changes and is wondering WTF is going on lol.

 

[LudusPlus]

The thing is, don't try to take it all off in one bite. Just do little bites at a time, clip, clip, clipping around the beak.

But after looking at the picture I think you would have better luck with a Dremmel.

We just got home and this is him now. As you can see he absolutely has no issues being held usually and let's it all hang out.

Looks like she's clipped a tiny piece off each side but couldn't file it down.

I think he might be a bit moody because he's immediately dug a massive trench in his hide and gone to bed without a snack (didn't eat much this morning)

 

[Sarah2020]

What a drama! I recommend you buy a rough texture ceramic plant base from a garden center to serve the food on as it eats it scrapes on the ceramic and helps maintain the beak.

 

[LudusPlus]

I think more could've been done but I'll take it from here with feeding on slate etc. Still waiting for the incandescent flood bulb coming Monday but otherwise we're ready to roll.

Yes thats his enclosure in the background which is too small and the wood which I'm using to build a better one lol

 

[Tom]

View attachment 362117View attachment 362118

I think more could've been done but I'll take it from here with feeding on slate etc. Still waiting for the incandescent flood bulb coming Monday but otherwise we're ready to roll.

Yes thats his enclosure in the background which is too small and the wood which I'm using to build a better one lol

Beak trims are best done a little at a time.

I'm always working to improve their housing too. It never ends.

 

[LudusPlus]

Beak trims are best done a little at a time.

I'm always working to improve their housing too. It never ends.

I will at some point soon share the conditions he was living in before I got him. They're kitty litter substrate fake grass apple eating levels of bad, so it's been a long road but constantly improving.

 

[Tom]

I will at some point soon share the conditions he was living in before I got him. They're kitty litter substrate fake grass apple eating levels of bad, so it's been a long road but constantly improving.

Did they have the red light bulb too? And a 10 gallon tank that the pet store sold them?

I'm happy that he is in better conditions and has a better caretaker now.

 

[zolasmum]

I will at some point soon share the conditions he was living in before I got him. They're kitty litter substrate fake grass apple eating levels of bad, so it's been a long road but constantly improving.

I'm sure Duncan will have a much happier and healthier life with you -I'm so glad you found him -or he found you.
Have you any idea how old he is?
Angie

 

[LudusPlus]

I'm sure Duncan will have a much happier and healthier life with you -I'm so glad you found him -or he found you.
Have you any idea how old he is?
Angie

He's actually been with my family for 10 years. I think he's around 12.

My parents got him because I asked for one when I was 13 and I trusted my dad to look after him. They wanted to rehome him recently that's when I started doing research and figured out everything that was wrong.

Of course I feel terrible for just sitting by watching how he was treat but at the end of the day I was a kid and my parents should've known better.

I'm 23 now for reference so I think he might be about 11-13. I moved out at 18 and only just got a place that allows pets (and that's only because he isn't furry lol).

 

[LudusPlus]

It is quite a weird situation.

The more I learn about tortoise care the more I absolutely despise Duncans upbringing. It literally isn't hard to get the basics right if you just do some research.

But at the same time I try to not get too angry at my parents for it. I sat by and watched it happen between the ages of 13-18 and only just realised it was wrong.

They seem pretty indifferent. They said they feel bad and fronted the vet bill for the trimmings and checks etc but I've had to spend hundreds sorting everything else myself. For a good cause of course.

One day I'll make a thread of all the things he's survived because it's genuinely crazy that he's even alive.

 

[SinLA]

It is quite a weird situation.

The more I learn about tortoise care the more I absolutely despise Duncans upbringing. It literally isn't hard to get the basics right if you just do some research.

But at the same time I try to not get too angry at my parents for it. I sat by and watched it happen between the ages of 13-18 and only just realised it was wrong.

They seem pretty indifferent. They said they feel bad and fronted the vet bill for the trimmings and checks etc but I've had to spend hundreds sorting everything else myself. For a good cause of course.

One day I'll make a thread of all the things he's survived because it's genuinely crazy that he's even alive.

Before you beat yourself up too badly, all of us, and I mean ALL OF US, feel terrible about how we raised pets as kids.

-I had a cat that was an indoor/outdoor cat and got hit by a car when I was 9 and it wasn't a quick end, I feel terrible about his suffering to this day.
-I had a parakeet that drowned in a fish tank when I was 12.
-My cousin had rats, but only a single rat a time. That's a horrible experience for a rat where they are the opposite of tortoises and shouldn't be alone.

The best thing you can do is learn and improve and become and advocate going forward.

 

[zolasmum]

It is quite a weird situation.

The more I learn about tortoise care the more I absolutely despise Duncans upbringing. It literally isn't hard to get the basics right if you just do some research.

But at the same time I try to not get too angry at my parents for it. I sat by and watched it happen between the ages of 13-18 and only just realised it was wrong.

They seem pretty indifferent. They said they feel bad and fronted the vet bill for the trimmings and checks etc but I've had to spend hundreds sorting everything else myself. For a good cause of course.

One day I'll make a thread of all the things he's survived because it's genuinely crazy that he's even alive.

It must have been awful when you realised how much was wrong with Duncan's life, but you are now going to give him the best life you can - and it may be a very long one ! He will be very happy with you, and you with him, I'm sure
Very best wishes from Angie

 

[zolasmum]

How is Duncan today - has he got over his beak trim yet? I find that with Zola, he usually forgets and forgives me by the next day, whatever I have done to annoy him ! (He will probably need a trim soon too.) You mentioned the vet gave Duncan dandelion leaves - I think most tortoises like them, so if you have anywhere near you that has them - unsprayed and washed well, of course - Duncan could have them any time, as they are a good food - also the flowers next year.
Angie

 

[LudusPlus]

How is Duncan today - has he got over his beak trim yet? I find that with Zola, he usually forgets and forgives me by the next day, whatever I have done to annoy him ! (He will probably need a trim soon too.) You mentioned the vet gave Duncan dandelion leaves - I think most tortoises like them, so if you have anywhere near you that has them - unsprayed and washed well, of course - Duncan could have them any time, as they are a good food - also the flowers next year.
Angie

He's been amazing today!

In fact, today is the first day he seemed to really recognise me. He saw me come into the room and literally ran at me full speed haha, definitely because he's used to his breakfast by 6am.

He actually got over the vets almost immediately, the second I'd leave he'd poke his head out and be burrowing in his carrier. I've been looking a bit for forage but I think I need to go a bit out of Sheffield city center because I don't trust anything near here to have no nasties.