Hi,

We have a 4 year old russian, which was rehomed via TPG / Jo and originally fed on dry pellets..

We moved him over to weeds and a selection of veg...had him checked by the vets who advised keeping off dry..and gave injection ( think this was antibiotics)

Beginning of the year, he was not really fussed about eating...at all..so after a visit to the vets we bathed him in reptoboost every day / twice a day...but was still not fussed..

So he went back to vets and was given another injection but was also tube feed...and then after a couple of days he started eating again (and discovered a love for rabbit poo in the garden (from our rabbits rather then wild)) ..he is still eating very well...pretty much everything is fair game..(vet seemed to think he was not eating cos he was horny)..

Although when we got him he did have a chunk out of his beak on each side and the vet said nowt to worry about..now a lower part of his beak on the right hand side has snapped off ( when mouth closed it is in line with the bottom of the mouth)..

He gets bathed / nutroballed on his food everyday..but has never been fussed with Cuttle fish / Limestone flour..will not touch any food that has it on....)

Has a slate in his indoor hutch and all the patio / path areas in the garden are black limestone...

So will this snapped beak part grow back...I have assumed that this was down to his original diet and then made worse when he stopped eating....should we be looking to give him more calcium or a trip back to vets...

Otherwise he is very active ..eats without issue...gets round the garden without issue..

Any thoughts would be welcomed..have no problems taking him back to the vets but would rather only do if he ill..

Regards

Ray

Hi Ray,

Glad to hear he is doing so well. As you said it's probably down to his original diet and if he's not experiencing any problems eating he will be fine and his beak will grow back. Was his beak excessively overgrown prior to it breaking & have you any photos please?

Kindest Regards
Darren

Hi Darren,

Cheers for reply

No he has no problems eating at all...fussy eater..but will quite often in the morning you can come down stairs and he is sitting by his bowl waiting....

It was slighlty overgrown and the vet said it should sort itself out..will take some photos and post...

Regards

Ray

Hi Ray,

It doesn't look too bad at all. If the beak is brittle, it sounds like it may well be, it might be best for a good vet to give it a trim to save it breaking/splitting awkwardly?

There is a list of recommended vets here:-

http://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/157.asp

HTH
Darren

Hi Darren,

Many thanks for you help, will get him checked out..

Regards

Ray