Cutting Nails

[BonBon]

This will be my first time cutting my Buns nails, I had at the rescue shelter, with the help of 2 others, that had lots of experience with cutting nails, and he felt comfortable with. His nails have gotten massive, and He is a scared bunny, and wont let me pick him up often, now that hes at the nails really really need to be trimmed(he is a digger, so really important). I CANT for the life of me get a good hold on him and even at that I’m not sure how to force a hold not to be loving, but to do the nail cutting deed. Could someone explain to me about the ‘in a towel’ approach, or really ANY tips on how to go about doing this with a squeemishie bun

[peppypoo]

If you’re having trouble holding him yourself while cutting his nails, maybe you could bring him somewhere unfamiliar (and higher up)…bunnies usually tend to freeze up a little if you put them somewhere like an unfamiliar countertop, making the job a little easier.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Do you have someone who can help you? The only way I can get my buns nails cut is with a helper. I get him to hold the bunny “baby burp style” and I trim the nails. If your bunny is really squirmy you can firmly wrap a towel around the bunny before holding him and gently lifting out each foot to clip. Caution needs to be taken, obviously, so that bunny doesn’t jump out of the helper’s arms. If bunny is really stressed, you can try just doing 1 or 2 feet per night and then giving a night off in between till they are all clipped. And always reward with a treat so bunny knows something good will happen after the “bunny torture”.

[LindsBeck]

I can do the front nails of my bunny by myself… I just hold him up high and he doesn’t move… he’s done it a few times now so he knows what’s going on. It works really well! Then when I need to do his back nails, I get someone to hold him(standing up) the height thing really works. the bunnies do freeze when they know something is going on that’s kinda unusual. Be careful you don’t clip to close to the nerve ending, my bunny warns me when I get to close… the more times you do the clipping, the easier it will get. I was so scared the first time I had to do it, but now since I’m more comfortable doing it the bunny is more relaxed too.

But, if you really don’t feel comfortable, I know there are two ladies that come into my local Pet Valu to do clippings once a month and all the procedes go to rabbit rescue!

[Ardelt]

I had the same issue and actually let poor Nigel’s nails get a little too long as I was too worried about hurting him to get the job done. I finally put a towel on the lid of my chest freezer and tucked the towel under the lid to keep it in place and cut his nails up on it. He pretty much stayed put and let me cut all of them at once, but he was a few days before he completely forgave me.

We sold the freezer though (replaced it with an upright) the next week so I’m thinking I might put a yoga mat on the kitchen island and try that next time. I’m completely stressed each time but I’m sure I will get more confident each time I do it.

Good luck!

[Elrohwen]

Can you just take him to the vet and let them do it? I had them do my bunnies for a couple years until I felt comfortable with it. Even now I’m not skilled enough to do it without a helper – one person to hold and one person to trim.

I always start by getting them into a carrier, then I bring them into the kitchen. New places are scary and keep them quiet; so do high places like a counter. 

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