Beak Corrections (Beak Trims)

Q: Does It Hurt To Trim A Bird’s Beak?

Beak corrections should not hurt. An overgrown beak is like an overgrown fingernail, and the process of trimming the beak is like filing the whites of a fingernail. There is no nerve or sense of pain in the overgrown area. Therefore, if performed correctly, and only the appropriate amount is trimmed, your bird won’t feel any pain at all.

A bird’s outer beak is made of keratin and grows continuously much like our fingernails. Birds generally wear down their beak naturally and do not usually require regular beak trimming. However, there are some cases where birds develop an abnormal beak, or their beak becomes overgrown.

If not corrected, an overgrown beak can prevent birds from performing daily tasks such as climbing, preening, and eating, leading to malnutrition and other health problems.

What Causes an Overgrown Beak?

An overgrown beak can result from a developmental problem, nutritional deficiency, illness, or it can also be due to trauma or injury.

In these cases, the two different parts of the beak (the upper and lower) may start to miss each other, which becomes a problem as the area that is not connecting with the opposite beak then continues to grow. If this occurs, then beak correction is generally recommended.

How Do You Trim A Bird’s Beak?

An experienced avian vet should always perform beak corrections and trims. In most cases, this procedure can be performed with your bird awake; however, in more serious cases (or if your bird is very nervous or stressed) a short anaesthesia is sometimes needed.

At The Unusual Pet Vets, we perform beak corrections using a specialised burr that gently and precisely mimics the natural erosion of the beak. This technique allows us to file the beak down to its optimal shape where the top and bottom beaks align again.

Does It Hurt to Trim A Bird’s Beak

Beak corrections should not hurt. An overgrown beak is like an overgrown fingernail, and the process of trimming the beak is like filing the whites of a fingernail. There is no nerve or sense of pain in the overgrown area. Therefore, if performed correctly, and only the appropriate amount is trimmed, your bird won’t feel any pain at all.

How Often Do Beak Trims Need To be Performed?

If your bird’s beak is abnormal or overgrown, regular beak corrections may be required every 1-12 months.

If you have noticed that your birds top or bottom beak looks overgrown or appears abnormal in any way, please get in touch with us. You can make an appointment online or phone your local Unusual Pet Vets team directly.

Other Services

Dentistry

Dental disease is commonly seen in exotic pets. Unlike dogs and cats, the signs can vary species to species, and they can be subtle. If left untreated, it can cause discomfort and severe health issues.

For this reason, regular dental checks are recommended for rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and dragons. Regular cleanings for the likes of ferrets and bearded dragons is also recommended to prevent and remove plaque and tartar build-up.

At The Unusual Pet Vets, we have specialised equipment that allows us to perform a range of dental procedures on exotic pets to prevent dental disease development and treat impacted, overgrown, infected and abscessed teeth.

Sterilisations (Desexing or Neutering)

Sterilisation (otherwise known as desexing or neutering) is recommended for many exotic pets. There are many health and behavioural benefits from sterilising your exotic pet. It is an important preventative health care measure and prevents any unwanted and unexpected pregnancies.

We recommend that rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs and rats should all be routinely desexed to prevent a range of issues. In some cases, sterilising your reptile or bird is also indicated for the prevention of some diseases.

For more information, please contact your local Unusual Pet Vets team.

Surgery and Anaesthesia

Surgery is often necessary for a range of problems that occur in unusual pets. While any surgery or anaesthetic has risks, exotic species often have a higher anaesthetic risk than dogs and cats. We minimise the risks of anaesthesia as much as possible to ensure a comfortable, safe, and smooth procedure for your pet.
All our practices have specialised exotic animal anaesthesia and surgical equipment to treat animals as small as 20g. Weather your pet requires a routine surgical procedure or emergency surgery, you can trust that your exotic pet is in safe hands.

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