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Forum DIET & CARE Clipping bunny?

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    • SquattingSnail
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        I was wondering if it was safe to clipper a bunny? We are in a never ending  battle with mattes on our little guy and just want a nice fresh start. We have been trying to scissor him down but it is very slow going and we are terrified to cut him. Does any one have any other suggestions? Thanks!


      • bunnyfriend
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          You’re talking about clipping the nails right? Well, there are two kinds of clippers people use usually for rabbits

          1) typical small animal clippers, looks like this: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2342553209_f650863815.jpg

          2) cat clippers that have a spring that look like this: http://www.i-pets.com/pics/product/2007/07-79028.jpg

          How big is your bunny? I have found the the cat clippers with the spring work best because it’s an easier cut and clips quicker. With the clippers that don’t have a spring it is hard to clip thicker nails and my bunny would notice it more, you kind of have to struggle and it makes the bun uncomfortable. Make sure to avoid the quick, the vein in each of their nails (you probably know that already). Do you have styptic powder on hand? The method I use is to sort of make a bunny burrito by wrapping a towel or blanket around the bun and clipping or I sort of tuck her in my arm. It works out much better if you have one person hold the bunny securely and maybe distract with some yummy food, and have another person clip the nails. You can also try just touching is feet to get him used to you doing stuff to them. Nail clipping shouldn’t be painful unless you hit a quick, they just have no idea what is going on so it is scary.


        • SquattingSnail
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            No, sorry for the confusion. I meant fur. He is long haired and when we got him a few weeks ago he had some mattes. Now these mattes have slowly grown to large masses that are super close to his skin.


          • bunnyfriend
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              Oh I’m sorry! I just gave you a bunch of useless information 

              My bridge bunny came to me with mattes on his back around his butt, I used hair scissors. I think the mattes sort of hurt to be tugged on, but maybe a wrapping your bunny with a towel (exposing the matte you want to cut off) would help. If you’re talking about electric clippers I think that might be really scary and it would be harder to keep your bun still.


            • LBJ10
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                I have some experience with this. We went on vacation and my mom watched the rabbits. She refused to let them out of their cage, the poor things. To my utter shock, Wooly’s hair was matting everywhere by the time we got home. I just couldn’t believe it because I had brushed him right before we left and thought it wouldn’t be THAT bad. Anyway, I called the vet and they said they could do it but they would have to sedate him. I was all for it! My husband caught wind of the price though and freaked out. So long story short, I did it myself. I corralled Wooly in a laundry basket so he wouldn’t have anywhere to run. The clippers were scary and he was not a happy camper. I managed to get the “horseshoe” shaved off which ran from his left shoulder, down his side, around his butt (above his tail), up his other side, to his right shoulder. It was so weird the way the mat (mats?) was forming. Wooly looked butchered, but he is completely mat-free right now. It is totally doable, but don’t expect it to look good when you are done. They simply won’t hold still for it.


              • Tipsy Bunny
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                  I have a horse that is very scared of the clipper noise in her ear. They have cordless clippers that are very quiet and less expensive than the corded ones, if you would rather take the clippers route. Maybe if you covered his eyes and ears with something it may calm him down a little more… but just be careful, clipper blades get hot quickly and bunny skin is very delicate, so make sure to constantly test the flat side of the blade on the back of your hand to see if it’s too much.


                • LBJ10
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                    Yes, Tipsy Bunny is right. You have to make sure that the blade isn’t getting too hot (although there is cooling stuff you can buy to spray on there). The cordless ones are much quieter, but don’t have the same power from my experience. I suppose it would all depend on hair type too since some hair is a little tougher to buzz through. I don’t think Wooly was scared so much by the noise, but this awful thing that probably felt weird when it was cutting his hair. Both rabbits are used to the vacuum, so I don’t think loud mechanical noises bother them. I have accidentally sucked Leopold numerous times because he would be messing with the vacuum hose.


                  • SquattingSnail
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                      I tried clipping him with a cordless beard trimmer I have but was useless. His hair is so thick it just wouldn’t go through it. One a postive note he just sat there without complaint munching on some hay. Our little guy seems to love the vacuum, he is an odd duck.


                    • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                        I confess….

                        I clip!!!

                        Kahlua got her clip on Wednesday actually. I use the super quiet dog clippers. I did do my first clip at a groomers with supervision so that helped. But I find it super easy. I hold ears or tail if I’m close. I actually want to make a clipping video next time, I think it would be great, also maybe funny because she is like 1/3 the size after a clip. She may look dorky -hey I’m no pro! But she can see and it totally eliminates her random stomping (seems to come from not being able to see) and she doesn’t need all the crazy fur (If your wondering why get a lionhead if you are going to clip them, it was the only way to convince Dave to let me get a second bunny so that’s why ). But yes I clip, it’s easy, safe and though she doesn’t like it (The dog does-he loves being clipped) she tolerates it very well and definitely enjoys having her vision back!

                        Anyways spring for a nice set of quiet dog clippers. I use it without the guard and go very slowly on a towel by the sink in the bathroom. Don’t worry about getting a whole clip done the first time, just do a few swipes give a treat and call it a night. He won’t be teased at school and small spurts are likely the way to start for both of you to grow confidence


                      • SquattingSnail
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                          So I went out and bought http://www.andis.com/USA/productsPopUp.asp?SP=N&Product=Clipper&Div=SM%20Animal&ID=23410 and it doesn’t do anything. Maybe its a technique thing but I can’t get through his thick fine hair. Kokaneeandkahlua what kind of clipper do you use? I hope I can return this one it doesn’t cut worth a darn and the power switch seems faulty.


                        • LBJ10
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                            SquattingSnail – Those cheapie ones don’t work very well. The good ones are like $150+. You have to hold it at the right angle, otherwise it isn’t going to catch the hair and glide.


                          • SquattingSnail
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                              Unfortunately $150 is out of the college budget. I wonder if a groomer would be willing to take a quick swipe? It’s similar to the same shoulder to rump horseshoe that you had LBJ10.


                            • LBJ10
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                                They might. I was so worried to take Wooly to a groomer, I thought maybe he would spaz and the groomer wouldn’t know what to do. That’s why I called the vet and asked them if they could do it. Then they told me how much and that’s when I decided to just do it myself. We have a nice set of clippers for the dog which has actually saved us money over the years ($60 at the groomers was getting a little insane). So that is what I used. But Wooly didn’t like getting clipped and I was only able to get the horseshoe off. That’s odd that that is what happened with your rabbit’s hair. Then again, maybe that isn’t so odd. Maybe it is common and I have just never heard of it before.


                              • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                                  Sorry late responding!!! We use a WAHL dog clipper. It won’t let me link (only to the main site http://www.wahlanimal.com/) so I can’t show you the exact one but I bet any of them would work.
                                  I use it on Kahlua (lionhead so angora type fur) and she has fine fine fur and Mikey who has coarse fur (like a terriers)-works great on both.

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                              Forum DIET & CARE Clipping bunny?