Weird Lower Jaw

[The-Great-Stash]

A friends' box turtle has a big issue- her lower jaw appears to be flat or underground. Or it could be some sort of deformity, aside from the edges of her shell curved up all around.




I'm on my way to find a vet that specializes in reptiles. Till then, anyone have any ideas on what it could be and what could be done? She seems pretty healthy, alert, and unhindered by her jaw although I am concerned about her ability to eat.

Thanks.

 

[wellington]

Top beak looks over grown. Not sure about the bottom.
Maybe @Yvonne G can help

 

[The-Great-Stash]

Top beak looks over grown. Not sure about the bottom.
Maybe @Yvonne G can help

The top beak is overgrown for sure. If it wasn't for the bottom part, having her beak trimmed with certain foods would make it super easy like I do with my tortoises. How that bottom part got like that I have no clue. Hence she was given to me suddenly today.

But yes, I am hopeful that she will help guide me and give me good advice. I certainly appreciate it very much!

 

[Tom]

Has this turtle had access to sun or UV? What were they feeding it?

 

[Yvonne G]

I'm pretty sure the beak problem is associated with lack of calcium and UVB.

Both the upper and the lower will need to be trimmed, a bit at a time, over a period of several months, to get them growing back in the orientation they're supposed to grow. This is called duck beak.

 

[The-Great-Stash]

I'm pretty sure the beak problem is associated with lack of calcium and UVB.

Both the upper and the lower will need to be trimmed, a bit at a time, over a period of several months, to get them growing back in the orientation they're supposed to grow. This is called duck beak.

Thanks for that, and funny enough you responded after I came across the term "duck beak" and was hoping to have this confirmed by more experienced keepers. In any case, still trying to find a local specialist vet where I'm from. Plus need to get some more dewormer for my tortoises.

 

[The-Great-Stash]

Has this turtle had access to sun or UV? What were they feeding it?

I was told of her care and it makes semse- lack of ANY UVB (just a walmart brand heat bulb no real access to sun), mostly a water habitat with very little land area in a 10 gallon tank, and a very improper diet. But also, she was owned by another before them so I cant say for sure how she truly got to that point. She was given to me yestersay because they couldnt keep her for one reason or another and I'm very concerned about her health. I have her in an outdoor pen atm that use to belong to an Eastern I once kept temporarily.

 

[Tom]

I was told of her care and it makes semse- lack of ANY UVB (just a walmart brand heat bulb no real access to sun), mostly a water habitat with very little land area in a 10 gallon tank, and a very improper diet. But also, she was owned by another before them so I cant say for sure how she truly got to that point. She was given to me yestersay because they couldnt keep her for one reason or another and I'm very concerned about her health. I have her in an outdoor pen atm that use to belong to an Eastern I once kept temporarily.

Proper diet and sunshine along with Yvonne's suggestion of trimming should help that.

 

[The-Great-Stash]

Proper diet and sunshine along with Yvonne's suggestion of trimming should help that.

Funny, I caught her basking alongside my female Spotted. She's been in the same spot for awhile and I suspect that she never got what she needed. She looked very content and bright eyed. Her sorry state of living I can gladly say has come to an end, and I intend to give her a much more enriching lifestyle outdoors.