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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum DIET & CARE Monthly maintanence help please?

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    • Ashley&Bing
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        I have read everything I can find on succesfully taking care of rabbits long nails and I have tried and failed at everything. I had given up for the moment until I found a scratch on his ear that was bleeding. I know its because his nails were too long. I’ve gotten a lot of the tips of the nails over this week, basically one at a time a few times a day when he’s lounging and not paying much attention. But I’m worried because there are other things that I’m supposed to do that I can’t! he refuses to be burritoed for more than 5 seconds before he goes into a frenzy and I just feel awful everytime I try because it looks like torture. Any tips on how to carry out these duties without scaring him? Or me? lol


      • LittlePuffyTail
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          I have a bunny that panics over nails (and everything). The only way I can do her nails, and actually this is how I do all my rabbits, is I get a helper to hold bunny on his shoulder so the front paws and head are resting on his shoulder. He has to hold bunny really tightly because some bunnies will try to jump into thin air to escape the evil nail clippers. When I go to the back nails he lifts bunnies butt up and I grab a foot and clip. I think this works well because bunny feels so imbalanced in this position that he pretty much has to stay put. If you try this method make sure your helper knows how to handle a bunny so no one gets hurt. I have never had much success with burritos or trancing.  To make it easier on stressed out bunnies, try doing one foot per night until they are all clipped. I’ve also used this butt-lift method to do anal glands.

          Also make sure your nail clippers are very sharp so you can clip the end off quickly to keep bunny from fussing.


        • Ashley&Bing
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            I will try it, thanks! The only other person here at school with me that really knows Bing is my boyfriend, who may or may not be good at being my helper. We’ll see how it goes.


          • Elrohwen
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              Can you just take him to the vet? My bunnies are horrible about nails and I’ve just given up – now I take them to the vet. I feel more comfortable having professionals do it quickly and easily rather than struggling and stressing them out about it.


            • Chazz
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                I’ve done something similar as LittlePuffyTail, but I held the bunny with his back against me, hind end supported. It’s almost like being upside down but this way, you have a firm hold of him, and have the hind end supported. Then the person with the nail clippers can clip and the feet are easier to get ahold of this way as well.
                Also, something to consider, a lot of times a rabbit will be calmer if you can cover their eyes, much like, as I hear, with horses.
                And, I found with my bunny before my current bunny (who is actually very good about getting his nails done thank goodness) I had to take him somewhere that was very unfamiliar to him, where he would not frantically kick and try to get away from me. Whenever we went somewhere new and scary, my bunny who would normally never let me pick him up, was suddenly completely willing.


              • bunnymum16
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                  oh my.this scares me more.hahaha.i just bought a nail clipper because my bunny left a nasty scar on my leg!i dont really know how to do it.Chance is easy to trance but she comes out of it so fast.Chace would never even let us carry him.we both need help on this one.LOL!


                • Ashley&Bing
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                    As a college student, I don’t have the time or extra cash to pay a vet to do it. Unfortunately, new places make him excited and its actually harder to keep him calm when he is in a new place. He wants to explore. Maybe I’m trying to trance him wrong? Idk… Anytime I try and hold him, he kicks like a maniac. When I secure his back feet, he still kicks and cuts the crap out of my hand..

                    And I tried the shoulder bit too. He didn’t like that either, but I covered the shoulder with a towel so the only injuries were scraps to my arms.


                  • allegrabunny
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                      Have you tried letting him tired him self out a bit and stuff him full of veggies, then burrito and football hold him, while covering his eyes and hopping on one foot? Just kidding about the hopping. My boys hate having their nails done, but I hate paying for stitches so it evens out. I do the squeeze squeeze clip technique to makesure I don’t get the quick (major ouch) The bunny should pull back right away if you’re too close. Once they trust me a bit more, ie no bunny blood, they let me finish all four and just end up giving me a thump and bunny butt.


                    • Balefulregards
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                        Really this only way to get in there and do it is to DO IT. Burrito them firmly and go at it. I did Jacksons nails and Coco’s anal glands this week and Jacksons nails were terrible. Don’t forget the thumbnail – his was super long – like starting to curl up into his paw had I let it go any longer.

                        I firmly burrito them and then ferret out one paw at a time. And I don’t stop until we’re done, cause I know I am going to be heavily avoided for at least three days afterwards.

                        I also do it in the bathroom, so if they do escape, I can get them MUCH back easier than in the bedroom. I also have the benefit of Strong lighting in there.

                        As to anal glands, I am so much Faster now – Really you are going to have to work out your own routine but this is mine …

                        Wrap Coco. Do the flip and calm her. I cover her eyes as well. Have warm water and cotton ready, locate the glands and start the softening process. Coco gets the hard wax plugs, so hers need to be softened up with the warm water before they can be moved. I use a pair of blunt tipped, thick tweezers and continue to soften with the water until I can remove the plug. I also have used my nails (in lieu of tweezers) if I can’t get a good enough grip. If I do it too fast, she will get a small tear and bleed – the skin is so thin – so I really go slow and use the warm water to help loosen the plug.

                        Jackson never seems to have gland buildup – and Cocos keeps her nails short naturally – so I only have to deal with one issue per bun. But Jackson’s nails were so bad this past week that I tried to move him to the cage while wearing a tank top and he scratched the HECK out of my left breast – As in my husband came in and said “Lets put antibiotic ointment on THAT” – but it was my fault for waiting too long. I just hate to do it – as much as they hate having it done….


                      • Michelle&Lolli
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                          I think someone mentioned this already. If you can, try to wait until it’s nap time and try to clip his nails then. You might be able to trance him during this time too.

                          I have found if I do Lolli’s nails, it’s best for me to hold her tightly to me and have my friend clip the nails. Lolli can’t struggle and usually just puts up with it. But I have to make arrangements for my friend to come over which is a pain. So I think I’m going to budget in $13 to get her nails clipped at the vets.

                          You could always call your vet if you have one and see how much they charge for nail clipping. then you could possibly factor that into your bunny budget at some point.


                        • Nibbles_NZ
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                            I take Baxter to the vet. It takes them 5 minutes and they charge me $12. They also weigh him and do a quick overall look at him to make sure there are no abscess’s so it is also peace of mind for me


                          • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                              @ The Bingster

                              Actually new places-makes trimming nails easier Usually a vet trim costs around 10$ or so, so if you can skip coffee for a week (assuming you have a 2$ coffee each day) that could work

                              If you are determined to do it yourself-instead of trying to wrangle your bunny and trim his nails, instead work on holding him. If he doesn’t let you hold him while your standing, do it sitting. Or try putting him on a counter top and holding one paw at a time for a few seconds. Find what works for both of you (even if he only lets you hold him for a few seconds) and practice! Give him a raisin or his favorite treat after each session and practice a few times a day (say every time you take a study break!). Pretty soon you’ll be ready to start trimming! And remember you don’t have to do all his nails in one session-shoot for one foot or even two nails-and go from there


                            • Ashley&Bing
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                                I didn’t realize the vet was that cheap… Sounds like a good idea. I have been able to get one nail every few hours, so a few a day. I do it when he’s pooped out and lounging. I pet him for a long time and then my boyfriend sneaks the clippers inot my other hand and I switch the petting to him and I clip a nail or two until Bing realizes whats going on lol. I do appreciate all of the advice. Without this community, I would have been lost.


                              • allegrabunny
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                                  Maybe I am just stubborn, but I would never voluntarily pay to have my bunnies nails clipped. I learned to clip nails with huskies who hate having their feet touched. I think attitude is everything. If you are confident in your clipping it should be quick and painless. It sounds like you are on the right track though.

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                              Forum DIET & CARE Monthly maintanence help please?