My tortoise's beak is lumpy and crooked. When should I trim it?

It can be if it interferes with the ability to eat. Have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. The vet may be able to trim the beak to a manageable length that will not inhibit eating. Review your tort's diet with the vet to confirm adequate nutrition and vitamin/mineral supplementation.

Hello! As long as it is just a little overgrown and she can still eat well (can tell by having the brown or green part of the poop present as they can pretend to eat) there is not a rush to get into the vet. It will need to be clipped and shaped if it gets really long though. Sometimes this can happen if a bird is eating only seeds so try to see if Turtle can be convinced to eat a pelleted diet by pretending to eat it yourself often around her and some patience.

Can you post again with photos? Do you mean the beak if broken or the actual jaw? That makes in difference on how we can help. I recommend you feed him soft foods for a while. Things he doesn't have to bite down on hard or tear with his beak. Really, a vet exam would be best. They can put in a feeding tube until the beak regrows or the fractured jaw heals.

Hello. You really need to find a veterinarian that treats exotics. This much swelling could be a sign of heart disease, but other issues can be at hand. I hope you can have her checked out soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for reaching out about Squirtle and including photos. A probably diagnosis is an infection, requiring debridement of the wound and systemic antibiotics. A veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

A little uneveness isn't much cause for concern, as birds will naturally file down their beaks on surfaces such as perches or cuttlebones, etc. However if the beak is very badly aligned, or keeps overgrowing, having it checked out by a vet is a good idea to make sure there isn't an illness, injury or even nutrient deficiency causing it. In the case of chronic beak misalignment, regular filing or trimming may be needed to help keep the beak in shape.

This is most likely an abscess that has formed. Fudge will need to be seen by a vet to have it treated. If it is diagnosed as an abscess the vet will flush it out and place Fudge on antibiotics. I would recommend seeking treatment right away so the swelling does not get any bigger because it may affect Fudge's ability to eat.