Bunny is terrified of getting his nails clipped

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This topic has 4sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 9 months ago by RabbitPam.

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- 06/05/2009 at 8:47 AM
  sweetbluebun
  Participant
  102 posts
  Hello again everyone, it seems I’ve lived long enough in bunny bliss (no bunny related problems whatsoever for quite awhile) but of course our buns do keep us on our toes if we get too comfortable, so now this had to happen. It seems that my formerly placid while clipping nails Guppy has become extremely terrified of the act. I don’t know what happened, he’s always so good when I clip his nails, I don’t even need to restrain him or cover him with anything (unlike Cheeky who hates it and tries to pull his little paws away). The other day I tried clipping his nails, and he ran away from me, while on a table, I had to catch him (without force though because I just used my arm to slide him back over) and start clipping. He started breating VERY heavily, so I got worried and let him down. I think he was so stressed out he couldn’t move, so he just lay next to me instead of running away. He kept breathing hard, so I brought him some water, a tile, and a fan to cool him off, he got ontop of the tile and sat near the fan for a good 10 mins. I don’t know what happened, if he overheated from the stress or what (he lives in my basement and it’s always cool downthere). But the whole thing was quite worrying. So I let him recouperate for a few days before trying again since I didn’t finish. Guppy doesn’t like to be held, so I use a carrier and treats to get him on top of a table surface where I can work. He got into the carrier alright, but when I opened it, I saw that my lil Guppy had peed! He’s never peed in it before and is perfectly littertrained so I can only guess that he peed out of terror. Again when I brought him out, he seemed very scared, and didn’t move much (though luckily no heavy breathing). I fed him some treats, which he ate normally, but I didn’t clip any nails as I had to clean the pee off him first. Other than this episode, he’s been acting totally normal, no weird behavior, eating normally, playing, being a cute lil Guppy. I’m not sure what to do, he really needs his nails clipped and I’m worried that taking him to the vet to get it done will freak him out even more!
- 06/05/2009 at 12:40 PM
  wendyzski
  Participant
  1312 posts
  I just do my best to get it over with as quickly and decisively as possible. Yes it’s stressful, but I can get it done in under 2 minutes and there are treats afterwards
- 06/06/2009 at 5:56 AM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  I was going to suggest you give him a treat while you do it to distract him, but you are already doing that. Did he get cut and flinch ever? It may be that the last time it hurt and he is afraid now. I posted this thread recently that I am sharing with others, in case it’s helpful.
  
  https://www.binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/afv/topic/aff/1/aft/105428/Default.aspx
  
  Definitely keep him cool. You might want to try a burrito. I don’t know if the towel binding will be comforting or more frightening, but it will help if you talk soothingly non-stop. If the burrito makes it go more quickly, than try it.
  
  It may be that he needs to go through the process once, quickly, painlessly, and successfully. If he doesn’t have anything new to fear, and he feels better afterward when he has trimmed nails, he may recover from his fear. Try to trim just the tips this time so you don’t risk any harm to the quick, so it is certain not to hurt.
- 06/06/2009 at 3:13 PM
  bunnytowne
  Participant
  7538 posts
  There is another post on nail trimming I just saw here in forums somewhere. Very good info in it too.
  
  States that b4 you clip you put the clipper on the nail and say clip clip while you press down but not cut. That way if the nail is on the quick the rabbit will jump b4 you clip so you don’t clip it too short. Good idea. I am going to try that too.
  
  And that nail clippers do get dull. Especially the little scissor kind.
  
  Looks like next month my buns are getting new nail trimmers and a play thingy too.
  
  All these ideas and helpful sites are coming from our BB members thats great.
- 06/06/2009 at 3:54 PM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  BT, that post your mentioned is the link I posted in my reply just above yours. It’s the Press, Press, Clip post. Sweetbluebun can just click the link I posted and it will go right to it.
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