Beak Trimming Experts: Trimming Help

[GreenFire719]

Hey guys, need some advice for a friend’s box turtle. She has a super thick top beak that gives her a duck-like appearance. It desperately needs trimmed but it is super thick and has a small hole in the middle that makes her weary about trimming it more. Here’s the hole in her beak:

The vet is also weary about trimming it because it’s so thick. Any advice on how she should trim her turtle’s beak (or if she should trim it more?). She’s used a dremel on her before so definitely could, but is worried about the bottom beak not sitting right. Thanks guys!

 

[Yvonne G]

Normally I use the corner of a toe nail clipper, but because of the thickness of that beak, I'd use the Dremel. The sides are too long too. Once you get the top beak situated correctly, then you can worry about the lower beak. . . or you may find it's better than it looks at the moment.

 

[GreenFire719]

Normally I use the corner of a toe nail clipper, but because of the thickness of that beak, I'd use the Dremel. The sides are too long too. Once you get the top beak situated correctly, then you can worry about the lower beak. . . or you may find it's better than it looks at the moment.

So she should be worried about the hole in the beak then right? I just want to reassure her it’s okay to cut her beak.

 

[GreenFire719]

Hey guys, need some advice for a friend’s box turtle. She has a super thick top beak that gives her a duck-like appearance. It desperately needs trimmed but it is super thick and has a small hole in the middle that makes her weary about trimming it more. View attachment 323067Here’s the hole in her beak:
View attachment 323068View attachment 323069
The vet is also weary about trimming it because it’s so thick. Any advice on how she should trim her turtle’s beak (or if she should trim it more?). She’s used a dremel on her before so definitely could, but is worried about the bottom beak not sitting right. Thanks guys!

This is what I told her to trim to. Does that seem alright? I’m basing it off the natural curve that box turtles typically have in their beak. For comparison, here’s io’s beak (which I need to trim soon):