My friend has a wonderful ornate box turtle, whom he's had since we were boys. She's generally in good health and doing well, but her claws and beak were quite overgrown. This morning, I helped my friend clip her claws to normal length, so she's good to go there. However, the beak is considerably more challenging.
We used an emery board, but that only files down a little bit at a time, so at this rate, it might take a month to get the beak to normal length. It's not painful (the turtle feels fine), but it does take time, which can be stressful.
From other threads, I've heard of people taking their turtles to veterinarians, who may use a dremel tool to file down the beak more quickly, and/or a clipper of some kind to cut back the beak as well. Unfortunately, not all vets are adept with these instruments, and sometimes turtles can get hurt, with the beak ending up damaged. Barring real injury, the beak usually grows back, but this can take a while, and in the meantime the turtle may be in pain and not feed normally.
Some members have also used dremel tools successfully to file down the beak themselves.
What do you folks recommend my friend do for his ornate boxie? Take her to a vet, or try to trim the beak at home? I have advised him that, if he does get a vet, he should make sure the vet has experience with this procedure. But if he decides to do it himself, is an emery board a good way to go? If not, what would you recommend? Thanks.
We used an emery board, but that only files down a little bit at a time, so at this rate, it might take a month to get the beak to normal length. It's not painful (the turtle feels fine), but it does take time, which can be stressful.
From other threads, I've heard of people taking their turtles to veterinarians, who may use a dremel tool to file down the beak more quickly, and/or a clipper of some kind to cut back the beak as well. Unfortunately, not all vets are adept with these instruments, and sometimes turtles can get hurt, with the beak ending up damaged. Barring real injury, the beak usually grows back, but this can take a while, and in the meantime the turtle may be in pain and not feed normally.
Some members have also used dremel tools successfully to file down the beak themselves.
What do you folks recommend my friend do for his ornate boxie? Take her to a vet, or try to trim the beak at home? I have advised him that, if he does get a vet, he should make sure the vet has experience with this procedure. But if he decides to do it himself, is an emery board a good way to go? If not, what would you recommend? Thanks.