Beak trimming advice

[Yellowwubiedog]

I have a large 50#ish male sulcata. He lives in a large outdoor enclosure and eats mainly grass and weeds. Last year he developed a large spur on one side of his beak, so I tool him to the vet and had it ground down. Now he is developing a spur on either side. Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening? I can take him to the vet again and have it fixed. I am sure the vet will be happy to do it again (for another $1000...ouch!) but it is traumatic for the tortoise and obviously annual surgery cannot be good for him.

 

[Maggie3fan]

I don't see anything wrong, he looks just like my Big Sam...A spur? Are you talking about the very front of his beak? hat's completely normal...

 

[Yvonne G]

Quite a few sulcatas get those Dracula teeth at the front of their beaks. Just leave them. It helps them to bite off their food, and is normal for Sulcata.

 

[Yellowwubiedog]

It is not very bad yet. Last year one side was so long he could only eat on one side of his mouth...hence the repair job. I was hoping to prevent that from happening again. I hope you are right and it will not get any more pronounced.

 

[Yellowwubiedog]

Quite a few sulcatas get those Dracula teeth at the front of their beaks. Just leave them. It helps them to bite off their food, and is normal for Sulcata.

Phew! What a relief!