Tortoise plastic surgery

[Nellie and Morla]

Originally Posted by alley cat

You did well to keep your cool after that shock!!

This is truly horrifying, the poor tortoise I cannot see how it will be able to eat without some sort of reconstruction sadly.

Did the vet realise it was a butchers job or did they try to pass it off as acceptible?

Can I also ask..what is the stuff in it's mouth? or is it just saliva relecting off the tongue, hard to tell, I hate to ask but has anyone checked the mouth that no other damage has been done on the inside?

Same here. I have no idea what to expect with reconstruction either.

He said 'There was a little bit of bleeding but it's alright now. I know it looks bad but all I've done is (I stopped listening at this point)'

I don't know what that is. Understandably she's a bit scared at the moment so I couldn't get a proper look. I am concerned there may be more damage than it even looks like too but I can't get her head out to see. First thing she did when we got back was come up to me for reassurance like she does but I'm not trusted enough to check her head after that.

[alley cat]

I am sure Danny will see this soon and will be able to offer some expert guidence.

Good luck with the follow up appointment, personally I would get advise from somewhere else as well, also insist that they refer you to and cover the cost of a tortoise specialist vet.

[cherylahutch]

Oh poor baby that's awful I do hope she is not in pain bless her. You did well to keep calm I think I would have burst in to tears. I hope they can help her but I think if it was me I wouldn't let them touch my tortoise again. Sending you hugs horrible thing to happen when your trying to do your best for your pets.

[egyptiandan64]

Sadly it looks like the vet used a dremel on her beak without actually opening her mouth. It also looks like it's done past the growing bit of the beak and down to the bone, so it's not likely to grow back.
Thinking hard off the top of my head of what to use as a bit of lower beak, I'm coming up with a skull I know strange, but Over here the have places that do resin skulls of all kinds of animals. If you could find a Horsfields tortoise skull you/the vets should be able to use the end of the lower jaw to attach to her jaw. It should work

Danny

[becciwales]

Oh my word. Poor baby!! Good luck with helping her xx

[Gordon]

That is awful im sorry for you and your tort
I would be looking at legal action for that

[Suze65]

That is horrific, I think it's negligent , and I would be thinking of legal action to pay for any further treatment now needed, I would make them pay. I would not take her back to that vet. Take lots of pictures and right a diary with dates of when this happened and any problems that may now arise from this. Get legal advice.
And go and find a good reptile vet ASAP .

[Nellie and Morla]

Again thanks for the support. I suspected it was past the root which is very sad but they can do reconstructive surgery i.e. give her a fake beak. It's apparently a long and expensive process but they promised free corrective treatment by the tortoise specialist (not that bloke). I will also be asking for it in writing that he will not be permitted anywhere near her before handing her over. To all those saying find a better specialist vets, there are none. There and back is 83.1 miles. The only other specialist is the same distance the opposite direction with lots of dubious reports of treatments. This is the first complaint I've heard coming out of our practice. It is in fact the individual vet not the practice we have an issue with. We want him struck off and for the best vet in our area, the head vet at this practice, to fix it.

[Suze65]

Good glad to hear they can do reconstruction for free, and that it's not the specialist vet but that bloke, I agree he needs to be severely reprimanded , hopefully your vet will take action. So sorry for you and your tort.

[Merlin M]

Am glad the vets are taking this seriously but it is still terrible that it came to this!
I hope the reconstruction is successful!