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Old 23-04-2015, 08:45 PM   #1
scapula
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Default Underbite

I have a tortoise here (Ibera) with a pronounced underbite he is one lucky tort ... we lost him last summer, we thought to a dog or a bird, and he popped up in the pen the other day. He hibernated 8 months under feet of snow down to -15c, anyhow here he is and as you can see he has this underbite due, I think, to a previous owner unknowingly not supplying UV.

He doesnt seem to have any problems eating, but he is only small (5" or so) Are there things I should look out for , like his beak growing down into it?. Can the bottom jaw be trimmed at all?. Now he has the right care will it improve as he grows ?

If anyone has any experience of this I would be grateful for any input

Thanks




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Old 23-04-2015, 09:35 PM   #2
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I have a tortoise here (Ibera) with a pronounced underbite he is one lucky tort ... we lost him last summer, we thought to a dog or a bird, and he popped up in the pen the other day. He hibernated 8 months under feet of snow down to -15c, anyhow here he is and as you can see he has this underbite due, I think, to a previous owner unknowingly not supplying UV.

He doesnt seem to have any problems eating, but he is only small (5" or so) Are there things I should look out for , like his beak growing down into it?. Can the bottom jaw be trimmed at all?. Now he has the right care will it improve as he grows ?

If anyone has any experience of this I would be grateful for any input

Thanks




If your tortoise is eating then its not a problem for them
I had a female with the same thing, she had no problems and I had her for ten years until I rehomed her, as I am down sizing.
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Old 23-04-2015, 10:21 PM   #3
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Same thing occurs in humans, it's just genetics
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Old 28-04-2015, 11:19 PM   #4
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Thanks for the reply Sandy I will put it down to "character" then and not worry about it!
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Old 29-04-2015, 08:42 AM   #5
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Thanks for the reply Sandy I will put it down to "character" then and not worry about it!
If the tortoise is not worrying about it, neither should you:0) :0)
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Old 29-04-2015, 08:59 AM   #6
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I'd try to make sure the tort has tough food or grazing so it has to use its beak and plenty of hard surfaces to eat off, I'm not sure but imagine if you feed soft cut up food the beak won't wear down.
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Old 29-04-2015, 10:55 AM   #7
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I have no experience of this problem but if the tort is coping ok I would leave well alone, just keep an eye open for any problems with feeding or laboured breathing as I would think its mouth could dry out as it is open constantly which may also leave it more exposed to infection.
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Old 29-04-2015, 12:09 PM   #8
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obviously its not causing a problem my under bite doesnt affect me, sometiimes i try to get my top teeth over my bottom ones but it never works :/ haha
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