Whimpering when cutting nails

[Bacuzoro]

I’ve only cut my rabbits’ nails myself a couple times. Both rabbits are usually pretty good about it. I take them into the bathroom and cradle them to cut the nails. When I cut their nails this time, my male bunny made a whimpering noise occasionally during the process. I’ve never heard him make this noise before so I just want to make sure I wasn’t hurting him. He was totally fine after I finished (just a little scared). So what does it usually mean when bunnies whimper?

[lashkay]

It could be your male bunny is fearful and anticipating that you are going to cut his nails too close and he is going to feel pain and that is what makes him whimper all the while, knowing he’s about to lose his nails. My bunny whimpers when I pick him up because he knows I am going to take him to the bathroom for a brushing which occasionally pulls at his hair so he whimpers softly, breathing hard, all the while he’s in my arms from the moment I pick him up, anticipating that he’s going to feel pain. It makes me extra gentle with him and try to get the brushing over and done with so I can return him to his pen where he can feel at ease again. He also gets treats when the brushing’s done and he’s back in his pen, for being a good bunny.

[lashkay]

If you can hold your bunny’s nails to the light, lighted behind them, you can see the quick (the nerve in the nail) to make sure you cut well in front of the nerve ending, and thus avoid cutting a nail too close. As long as the nail isn’t bleeding, it sounds like you’re not cutting too close to the nerve and aren’t hurting him. If you ever accidentally cut the quick, dip the claw into styptic powder or flour to stop the bleeding. It sounds like you’re being very careful so keep up the good work. In time, your bunny may get more used to having his nails cut without pain and not whimper as much but as long as you continue to do it carefully, it should be fine. If he knows he’s going to get treats afterward, that may help too.

[Elrohwen]

Otto makes a quiet whining/whimpering noise when we hold him and especially when we’re cutting his nails. I don’t think you’re hurting him, I think he just doesn’t like it 😉

[Michelle&Lolli]

I don’t think you’re hurting him, I think he just doesn’t like it 😉

Just wanted to add that Lolli starts huffing/breathing heavy whenever I do something she doesn’t like. I haven’t heard her whimper, but she gets all huffy. It’s just their way of letting us know that they are scared and not happy.

[Bacuzoro]

Ok phew! I’ve never cut to the quick so no blood and hopefully no nail pain. I only try to cut off a little at a time just to be safe. I’ve never heard either of them make any vocal noises so I figured I’d double check on what it could mean even though he seemed fine afterward. It definitely makes sense if he did it just because he did not like it (since they both would run into their cages whenever I went into their room for the remainder of the night). And now I’ll feel better about cutting the nails myself since I know he’s just unhappy and not hurting. Thanks for the input!

[lashkay]

I’m glad you feel better, it sounds like you are doing a good job. …Just for my own learning, how do you “cradle your buns” when you cut their nails? You say you cradle him in your arms, sitting down on the floor with him? while with one hand, your free hand, you cut the nails? Can you go into that a little further, so I know just what to do? Thanks!

[Bacuzoro]

I basically just sit on the floor with them, scoop them up, and cradle them on their back in my arms (sort of like you would cradle a baby). Then with my free hand I pet their head so they relax a little more and then clip the nails with my free hand. If they struggle, I stop cutting and pet their head til they calm back down or put them down to give them a break. I do not know if this is the easiest way to do it, but it has worked for me so far. I think the main thing that has helped them let me cut the nails was taking them in an unfamiliar place – like the bathroom. Hope that helps!

[lashkay]

Yes, it does! I don’t know how amenable my buns are going to be to cradling them on their backs in my one arm like a baby, but if it worked from you, I appreciate knowing that. Thanks for the details! From what I gather, it seems you have better success with this than a lot of others, myself included. Sounds like your buns really trust you, despite any whimpering.

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