Don't forget to feel the cheeks and jaw line.  But be careful when going underneath the chin, as some bunnies will bite when you do this. (you can also do the jaw and chin check later when you check the teeth)  Soon, you’ll know what normal bumps and lumps are, making it easier to spot new ones.

See picture of a severe case of ear mites at Islandgems.net

Some bunnies, like my Rucy, do have chronic tear duct blockage problems.  Rucy has this problem due to scar tissue built up from jaw abcess surgeries.  Most of the time her companion, Jack, keeps her eye clean. But I have to keep an eye on her eye, otherwise if unkept, her tears can irritate the skin around  her  eye causing  hairloss and pain.

Healthy Nose

SECURING: I secure my bunny on my lap between my legs. I put her on her back and pet her head - that calms her down, sort of a semi-trance.. Make sure your bunny can’t kick out its back legs and injure itself.

NOTE: Bunnies can actually break their back by kicking into the air so hard.  So I always lean in over the back legs or use part of my arm to secure the legs.

For hard to handle bunnies, like my bunny Jack, you can also wrap your bunny in a  small blanket or towel.  People have their own best way of doing this, but just be sure not to make it TOO tight. Just enough to keep him/her secure.  Some put the towel over the bunny first and scoop him up, or they pick the bunny up and wrap the towel around.  It really depends on you and your bunny.

Great Video on how to do a bunny burrito

Bunny Burrito Instructions from a post in our forum.

Be sure not to let your bunny get over heated. If you feel s/he is getting too hot, you may need to give him break.

If my bunny is still feeling frightened I cover his eyes which  helps calm him.

TEETH & GUMS 
·    Check gums to make sure they are a healthy pink (not white, red or purple)

·    Check the front teeth to see if they are wearing down properly and that there aren’t chips.  If you do find a missing incisor, take your bunny to the vet to prevent infection. Abscesses in the gums can be very aggressive. .

·    Bunny breath is nice!   If stinky, there could be something wrong like an abscess. (unless she just ate something gross)

·     This is also a good time to check for bumps and lumps around the jaw and chin if you couldn’t do it before.  Though some chins look damp when the bunny loves to chins stuff, if it's very wet, it could mean there are some dental problems and a vet should check it out. 

If your bunny has a malocclusion and/or spurs - check to see if the incisors need a trim by your vet.  You can’t check the spurs because they are too far back into the mouth, it all depends on your bunnies growth cycle and you and your vet will be able to determine how often they will need to be checked.

Rucy gets a spur trimmed by her vet every 3 months. But time flies, so it's good to mark it on the calendar

Below are links that show bunnies with dental problems.

House Rabbit Society Dental Article

MyBunny.org Dental Article.htm

Ocean County Vet Hosp

For those who haven’t clipped nails before, it's a good idea to have an expert teach you, or have someone help you until you get the hang of it.  Here's a great link to help guide you. Exotic Pets Website

UPDATE:  Found a great video that helps people trim their bunny's nails in a way that keeps their rabbit calm.  Stress free for both human and bunny alike http://www.rabbitcare.org/video.htm

• If you're still getting used to trimming nails, then trim just the very tip.  It’s better to be conservative until you gain confidence.

• Tips for dark nailed bunnies.   I use a flashlight to highlight behind the nail to help spot the quick.

• If the hair between the nails is long and blocks your view, DO NOT TRIM fur, just wet down the fur to get it out of the way.
   
•   If you haven't trimmed in a while, the quick can grow long, if you find that in your bunny's case, then just trim slightly each month.  The quick will eventually recede back to normal.  
   

Sore hocks are sores that can develop on the bottom of rabbits feet.  They need to be treated right away, as they can become infected.  Some bunnies have a visible small pink pad, and that's normal, but if it's bright red, and/or bleeding,  it needs treatment.

Rexes have a tendency for sore hocks because the fur on their feet is thinner than other breeds.

Pictures of sever sore hocks at:
IslandGems.com Sore hocks Article

This is where that disposable cup filled with lukewarm water  and q-tips come in handy.  I just place it right next to me and dip the q-tip into water and gently swab out the area.  

Check every month. You'll soon find that some bunnies build up a waxy substance very quickly while others only need cleaning a few times a year.