I just cant get her claws trimmed

[Deleted User]

I’m at my wits end with trying to get missy’s nails clipped. I got one paw done last night and I just am not able to get the rest of them done. theyre getting kind of long and super sharp and my arms are kind of starting to look like i stuck them in barbed wire . I got one of her front feet done last night when she was on my lap but she got fed up and freaked out so I let her down and decided to finish later. I’ve tried like four times today and everytime she just freaks out until she gets on the floor. I’ve tried to hold her, to put her in the crook of my arm like the vet showed me, I’ve tried to do a bunny burrito, but its like shes coated in oil or something and she just slides right out. I’m not making them loose, but I dont want it so tight she cant breathe lol.  I was worried that I was stressing her out too much because I kept trying to trim them but she would just jump down, thump once and flop over right next to my feet and relax. Right now shes even trying to climb my leg like what, gave up already?? What can I do to keep her calm so i can finish her feet???

[bunnyfriend]

Ah sorry clipping nails can be really stressful! Have you tried trancing her? Normally I am against trancing rabbits but in a case like this where nothing else is working I think it is necessary. You just have to make sure to do it quick and to make sure the bunny can’t kick out.

[Deleted User]

She kicks so badly I’m scared that shes going to hurt herself. I finally just picked her up and went in the living room and got one of my roommates to bribe her with pellets and kale and got the rest of them done as fast as i could. We sat in a room that she isnt normally in because i thought maybe thatd make her calm down a little bit. she still fought me a little bit but as long as my friend was giving her pellets she would sit relatively still. I really wish I could find a way to get her to relax without trancing her or giving her pellets but I’ll take what I can get lol. I think when I take her to the vet for her spay apt next month Ill ask him if he can clip them before he does the spay and ask him about other ways to hold her and calm her down. when he did it he put his hand over her ears and grabbed the scruff of her neck in one hand and put the other hand under her back legs then waited till she calmed down and nestled her in his arm like a baby while the assistant clipped her nails. She barely struggled at all with him, she didn’t even seem agitated when he checked her ears and eyes and stuff. but with me she completely flips out. She doesn’t have a problem sitting on my lap and letting me pet her and brush her, but when its nail time she goes berserk.

[LoveChaCha]

A friend of mine used to help me with nail trims. she would hold my bun, and I would clip away. she would put chacha on her lap, pet her, and tell her that she is doing a good job.

I do the nail trims myself. The front paws are not much of an issue, but I do trance for the back paws. It is quite a challenge sometimes, but it gets the job done. As long as you give a treat afterward, your bunny should be okay.

Your vet grabbed the scruff of your bunny? that is a no-no

[Deleted User]

I think at least for a while it’s going to be a two person job, lol. I don’t really trust anyone to hold her properly ( mostly just because I’m overprotective, lol) Yeah, when I took her in for her first check up he said you can grab her gently by the scruff and support her legs, but she seems so fragile I’m too scared to do that. She did pretty well with him so I didn’t think that it hurt her. I’ll definitely bring that up when I talk to him again though. I always pick her up behind her front legs and put my other hand under her back legs and hold her up on my shoulder. My first bunny was really easy to trance and trim his claws. He’d just kind of lay there with me and didn’t have a problem being picked up or turned over. I had him when I was in high school and didn’t know that you should avoid trancing, so that was how I trimmed his nails everytime. I kind of feel bad about it now. :\

[Monkeybun]

Never ever ever grab by the scruff on a bunny. their skin is far too fragile and thin to do that. Bunnies are not naturally carried that way, unlike cats.

I have never had a problem “trancing” my buns. They never go all “limp bunny” on me, they are perfectly aware and able to flip out of it at any time, just ask Moose

[RabbitPam]

I am unable to trance Sammy because she won’t let me pick her up, although this last trim I was pleasantly shocked to find she let me lean her back against my stomach & chest, with her back feet sticking out, and trim her back toenails that way. I’d seen the vet do it. She was supported by my chest and only struggled out at the end.

No neck scruff holding, please. I find it helpful to ask a vet to give me a demonstration of clipping, and let me practice in their office if they are willing. They can show you good ways to hold your own bunny right there, and you will get hands-on instructions that will be the safest with your bunny. Ask them if it’s possible.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I think if you are able, and trancing is only for nail care/gland cleaning it is just fine to do. you could also try holding the bunny against you on a counter and just picking up one paw at a time to trim. Try a goal of two nails a day. You’ll have them done in no time and with little trauma on both of you

[Stickerbunny]

I can’t do mine without a helper, mine wouldn’t let me flip them over for a trance and it’s just so much easier to get someone to hold them while I clip. I can’t believe your vet picked up the bun by the scruff :s … the shelter here did that to Powder when we got him and I didn’t like it.

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