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I’ve never been good at clipping animals nails. Pixel just does not want to do it. I avoided it like the plague with my guinea pigs, and they ended up with gnarled claws.
so I’m trying really hard to keep up on this. Today, I went to pick him up and he just would not get picked up. He ran over to “little bun” his stuffed bunny and began playing with him, so I got him to let me pick him up with little bun. His claws needed clipping, so I set him on the couch with his toy and got the clippers. He refused to let me clip his claws, even with his toy there. The dog was on my other side sort of standing gaurd and making little growly noises if the bunny didn’t like what was going on. I got her to leave, and set about trying to clip his nails again. No luck, even without the dog. I then tried a bunny burrito and that didn’t work. I got two of his claws. His heart sped up really fast he was sighing at me, and his nose was twitching like crazy. I got him back in our room, and he sat on a pillow with little bun looking grumpy as hell, and eating a treat. Now he keeps giving me bunny butt.what can I do to make it a non stressful situation, and get his claws clipped? He won’t dig.
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How did you hold him?
I’d suggest you put him on his back so he is tranced. I find that it helps if the bunny’s head is slightly lower than the rest of the bunny, talk to him gently and pet him until he is completely relaxed. That way you might do it. And then make sure he gets lots of treats afterwards.
I have to admit, that it takes two people here to clip the nails. One to hold and trance the bunny and the other one to clip. I actually haven’t tried my own advice
I should do it though ’cause it is so difficult to convince my boyfriend to help out with the bunnies. Oh, and make sure you have something to stop the bleeding just in case the accident happens.
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Lift him up, sit down on a chair and then turn him around with legs facing towards you and his stomach upwards. His head should be down by your knees then.
You may have to sort of stretch him a bit (gently), so he isn’t curled up, and make sure his doesn’t kick you. One of mine is a real kicker and resists going on his back, but once he is there, he just bunny purrs like crazy and falls asleep.
The two final pictures show a bunny on its back – by putting a bunny on its back, you paralyze it. I really don’t like doing it, as I think it is against the nature of a bunny and should only be done out of necessity (such as clipping), but as mentioned, Jack actually purrs when he is finally relaxed.
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Transport/Table/Restraining.htmJust be careful because if he kicks too much, he can hurt himself, so hold him tight.
I hope you understand my guideline – otherwise a native English speaker should clarify
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First -at this point if his nails need doing-get a vet or groomer to do it for you and avoid the hassel.
Then practice holding him and handling his paws.
**Trying to clip his nails when you can’t hold him is like putting rollerblads on a baby-first the baby needs to learn to walk right?
*There are two ways to hold your bunny for a nail trim. Try both-pick one and practice hard
*They are the ‘burrito method’ (wrap bunny up in a towel and firmly hold) and the ‘trance method’ (flip bunny over in your arms so they go into a trance like state and hold firmly).
*Practice one a lot-like every day a few times a day. Always give treats (1-2 raisins and a nose rub, or whatever your bunny likes) after you practiced, and extend the time your holding for. Then start handling her paws during the sessions. (Take a week or several to slowly practice-remember you are learning to do something new and your bunny is learning to trust you doing this to her).
Once you get used to holding your bunny properly and your bunny starts to trust this whole game-then it’s a walk in the park to trim nails.
(Tip for guinea pig nails-have someone hold them and give them a big peice of romaine-little piggies focus on the food and nails are a cinch
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