I just clipped Dusty’s nails for the first time yesterday. They had some great info on here under Bunny Info > Monthly Maintenance and this video is linked http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3okPKg9Fc8

Dusty’s gotten pretty used to me and my boyfriend holding her, but she was still really fidgety. I highly suggest you get two people haha I sat indian style on the floor and held her rested between my legs so she wasn’t off the ground too much, and had her wrapped in the towel while he clipped her nails. And putting the towel over her eyes really did help. good luck!!

I took my buns to the vet for nail trims regularly, but when my husband lost his job, I had to “man-up” and learn to do them myself to save some money. Now I can do both buns start to finish in less than 5 minutes. I’ve never had luck with burritos, I just hold them upright with my hand under their chest and tuck them into my side. Both buns are about 5 pounds or less. It’s usually the only time I hold them. They don’t like it, but it has to be done. Try it a few ways, just holding, not clipping and see what feels more comfortable for you.

Be sure to support the hind end rather than let legs dangle.

RabbitPam posted about a technique that helped her. Press, press, clip. You position the clipper in right place, avoiding the quick, then press to test a few times. If the bunny doesn’t balk, you can go ahead and clip. If they react, then you’re likely too close to the quick so need the reposition the clippers.

What you could try is just taking off the very tip of the nail every few days. To build confidence and get her use to having it done.

Me and Monkey have been going through a Pick Up routine.. every day, without fail, I do a session with her, I pick her up, if she doesnt wiggle a ton, I put her down, let her hop away, pick her up again. She’s getting better at being handled now I suggest getting Bindi used to being picked up, just so she doesn’t freak out when she is. Sometimes you can’t avoid it, like if there is an emergency, and you don’t want to fight your rabbit while having to deal with other stuff too.

Oh good re the dangling – well not dangling. ;o)

How far away is Bunny Lu? You could take her into a rescue near you and have volunteers do her nails. They can show you how they go about it, and any fee you pay goes toward the rescue.

I just did Jacksons nails this week. He is “easier” to trance – and I can get him on his back, on the floor, between my legs, with a cloth over his eyes. This way, when I let him ease up out of the trance, I can roll him towards his side and he snaps right back to life.

Coco saw what was going down and booked it into the least accessible spot in the room.

I use the try, then clip , technique – I used to jump a billion miles when they would kick or flinch, but over time I have gotten much surer and faster with their nails. Plus, Since Jacksons nails have finally been brought under control ( His quick was REALLY Long for the first few trims) It is easier to judge.

Sigh. I am going to have to suck it up and burrito Coco today. I have to have another cup of coffee before hand though….

I just take my bun to the vet and they do it for $15. He haaaates to be picked up, so it’s easier to just have the vet do it. I am working on picking him up for short periods, but I like that I can make those short periods positive, rather than struggling with him for 20 minutes to get his nails clipped. Eventually I hope he’ll settle down and let us hold him long enough to do his nails.

eat: Like yours, my husband is not a big help. He’s not as good at holding or trimming, but I can’t do both jobs.

I tried the bunny burrito, but neither of mine would stand it, and I found that the extra bulk of the towel made it harder to hold onto and control the bunnies. Neither of them trance, so putting the on their backs just makes them struggle more. I used to try to hold Leroy the way Balefulregards holds Jackson – on his back between my legs. And that way I could hold him firmly cradled between my thighs, but Leroy streeeeeeetcheed waaaaaay out and made it hard for me to see his nails.

I finally found a way of holding them that works for all three of us…. I hold them on their backs, cradled in my arms like a baby. I’m right handed, so I put their heads in the crook of my left elbow, their body up against my stomach, and my left forearm down their side, using my left hand to hold them firmly on their tummy or to hold their hind feet. Then my right hand is free to manage the clippers, and I can do all 4 paws really quickly. They don’t really relax, but I can hold them still in that position, and it makes nail clipping fairly eay.

Barbie, I know Leroy probably has short fur on his feet, but how do you do Jeannie that way? I know others who have had a lot of success, and that’s about the only way I can hold Otto as it is, but his feet fur is so long I can’t trim without a third hand to push the fur away 🙁 Any tips?

Bindilicious, I know what you mean about ruining trust. Just a few months ago, if I picked Otto up he would run from me for at least a day afterwards. It totally broke his trust. Now that he goes to the vet and I make all holding experiences positive, he sticks around after I pick him up and gets a treat, then lets me pet and snuggle him like normal – he no longer fears my grabby hands after I pick him up once 😛

eta: I took Otto bunny dating and both the rescue owner and her helper had trouble picking up and holding Otto even for a short period of time. That made me feel better about my inability to hold him! Haha. Some bunnies are really hard, and especially when it’s your first bun and you’re not skilled at bunny handling in general, it can be nearly impossible.

It is hard to get the hang of clipping solo. I can do little Toby because he’s so used to being handled at the vet for his teeth every month and trances well. Pringles has such big furry feet, like you said it takes an extra hand to find the nail. Daisy’s are really weird, they don’t seen to grow at all, They’re transparent white and the pink quick goes completely to the end and I’m afraid to clip them. I think he must chew them and keep them short.

Now Lola’s a trip, I tranced her once and tucked her head under my elbow. Did one back foot fine, touched the other foot and she woke up and latched on to the underside of my arm like a bulldog…lol. Last time we did that. Now my son arms himself with 2 tee shirts, a demin shirt and the canvas apron and holds her back against his chest so I can cut them without anyone getting maimed 😉 I’m such a whoosy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch

I’d found this video once on how to make a bunny burrito, and it’s not bad. Thought I’d post the link for you in case it helps to have a visual.

There are some good videos on YouTube if you search for a few topics. I find it helpful to watch a few different ones, so I have a broader idea of how different people handle different tasks. But asking your vet to show you, or even let you try it supervised by the vet or assistant, is a great way to learn.

Elrohwen, Leroy has hardly any fur on his feet, so he’s easy The first time I went to do Jeannie’s nails, I was so surprised by how much fur she has!!! Right now, I can do her nails pretty easily because they were super long when I first got her, so they still stick out from her fur – I’m working on getting them trimmed down. When the fur gets in the way, I can usually maneuver my left hand around to push the fur down or I use the tip of the clippers to push the fur out of the way and then get the nail before the fur moves back.

Barbie, it is tricky. I don’t let Otto’s nails grow past his fur because at that point they’d be really long! I have heard that it helps to get a spray bottle and wet their feet – then it’s easy to push the fur out of the way and have it stay that way. Considering I can’t pick him up *and* touch his feet at the same time, I think the water would send him off the deep end. It’s something to try though!

I have just found a channel on youtube that included this video. It was only added a few weeks ago. It’s quite good. The demonstration shows just a tip trim.

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Same here, thanks!

I have my husband hold the bunnies and cats when I trim their nails.  For the bunnies I usually catch them in their pen and then let them have their time out running after the trim.  My husband will sit on the couch and hold the bunny cradled to him- so I have 2 hands to push back fur and clip the nails- and the quicker it is done the less the rabbit seems to mind.

For very young bunnies- 3 months, etc- I use human nail clippers since their nails are so tiny and small.  But once they are older I use cat nail trimmers- and it is important to make sure they are reasonably new/sharp otherwise they pinch the nail before they cut through it.  You should be able to get many years of use from a pair of clippers.

But I had a pair of dog clippers for my dogs for about 6 years and I was wondering why they were getting antsy about getting clipped- I finally figured out that the clippers were too dull and were putting pressure on the nail before the actual cut was made.

I have a friend that has experience with animals.. (and has a Lionhead of her own!) help with nail trimming. My friend holds my bun on her lap and sticks one limb at a time out while I trim. It works. My friend puts my bun on her lap and pets her if my bun starts to stress out.

My bunny detests being held BUT will calm down after a while.

Wow.. what a great video on clipping nails. I just luv this place.. My Newton’s first nail clip was at the vets when I got him Neutered. My arms were a mess from his nails scratching me when trying to get him back into the Store bought cage I had. The holle to return them into is just to small. My arms look like multipul suicide attempts. Anyway for about 6 weeks after they were clipped was ok. Now when the big new home he comes in and out on his own. Yet two weeks ago I thought I’d better attempt this since reading stories how they can loose a toe or do a nail..
So I did the burrito thing.. towel.. on my lap but with his head tucked under my arm and on his back. Wow was doing good.. got 3 back nails done. Then he jumped. and I wasnt cutting he just bolted.. so caught him and again and back into positon. Holy $*&!, I got all nails done on his back feet. The stupid me, thought “hum, they still look a little long” I proceed with two more nails a shorter clip… ugh.. he bolted.. and I followed worried. Yes, I did it.. I cut the Quick. ugh.. blood all over.. the carpet. .did not care about the carpet.. I felt so bad.. I ws in tears…..
He looked in pain and was looking and licking the foot. I picked him up and took him upstairs to the tap. Ran is foot under water.. for about 3 min.. then wrapped it in a towel with a gental squeeze.. I held him for about 15 min.. kissing and telling him how sorry I was. He just layed in my arms.. never fussed. Then held it again under water trying to clean all the blood off. Again wrapping it in the towel with a gental squeeze.. Finally I returned him to his Castle.. and I watched him clean it up and sit quite still. Next day only saw a few drop of blood on a towel in his cage and he seemed fine. I have not attempted his front feet yet.. Needed him to get over my failure to his back feet. It is time now ..!!!!
Newton lets me pick him up. When I stand over top of him, he goes limp.. soft.. and I lift him with to fuss… I cradle him in the mirror.. and kiss his face.. Never has he bit me.. Yet I wish he would lick my face like I see other bunnies do. That would make my day.!!!!!!
So I have learnt my lesson on .. not short enough and got the dead done. Leave it for next time you did well.!!!
Yet I will have to post all of you trying to do those front nails. Newtons Nails are black. The front nails are so harder to find through the hair. I did try the wet towel thing and he did not seem to like it and well I was nervous. I am never nervous when picking up Newton.. as long as he is up at my highth.. he will not attempt to jump.. when I put him low to the ground or try to sit down on the ground with him .. then he will bolt..
I am happy that he will jump up on the couch with me.. and lay down for a nose rub. Little bugger will not poo or pee in his cage but he like to poo on my couch.. we are all lucky rabbit owners that the are hard balls and pick up easy with no mess.
I have a dog.. and he freaks at a salon. So I cut him myself.. his nails are awful.. he bites them off. He is a suck..
One day.. I mean one day!! I can get my darn husband to help me.. he will hold the dog and I will clip.. I don’t think he will ever help me out with my rabbits.. so I have to master this.. on my own..

I will let you know on my second attemp to do Newton front feet.. if I wait to long that quick will get to long.. he is just over 7 months with 1.5 sucessful nail trimls..
Thanks all..
Luv ya..s..

Just a regular clip of the tip of Newtons nail would help. YOu can slowly work you way back toward the quick. Apparently they do bleed alot if you nick the quick so no wonder it was upsetting. You can use something like kwik-stop or plain conflour to stem the flow of blood. Newton sounds great about being picked up. He’ll probably adjust to having his nails done in time.

You did much better than I did the first time I tried clipping nails 😉 Newton sounds like a sweetheart and good sport. I guess you could try for a face lick with a bit of banana rubbed on your forehead like people try to get their buns to groom each other…lol. With mine though, it would get me a bite!

While using cool water will clean the foot and might feel soothing- it will inhibit the blood from clotting- so I would recommend using flour, corn starch- pack in on the end of the nail.   It will be a bit bloody and messy from the blood and powder- but that will stop the bleeding quicker and then after a good 10-15 minutes or so the toe can be wiped.  Styptic powder sold in the pet section works great for clotting- but if you don’t have any- flour and corn starch work also.

It can be stressful to trim nails but indoor bunnies do not get much to wear their nails down so it is recommened to check them at least monthly.  If you are unsure and would like a confidence boost- you can always take your bunny to the vet for a trim and ask them to show you how- most clinics don’t mind showing the owners how to trim nails.

I have to trim Griffin’s nails monthly since he is an English lop and stands on his ears sometimes- but he has been trimmed since he was very young and handles it well- and with him I even use and emery board to remove sharp edges.  The other 2 bunnies I do not use the emery board as within about 24 hours the ends are blunt again.

Hey I priced the stuff for the nails.. the powered.. holy crap.. $15 bucks.. I will use corn starch. I have to get it in my head, that on a certain day I am going to attempt it again. His front paws half only been cut once since Surgery in Nov. I just scares me. I don’t no why. I want to do this on my own. I did good with the back feet.. until I went back for the second little trim. Those front nails are just so much slimmer.. and clear.
I might go see Nalla tomorrow…and I am thinking maybe ask the girl I get my buns from to show me how she does it.

I luv the name Griffin, KatnipCRzy..

Took a ride on Sunday to the girls house that I got Newton from. Went see Nalla, and get her to show me how she clips her buns nails. Her rabbits are all outdoors cus she breeds them. Well anyway.. she took a bun flopped him over on his back in her lap.. squeezing the scruff and ears between her legs and played away with his feet .. showing me how to do the nails..
Ya looked easy. Tried it on Newton today.. no way he kicked and kicked till I let him go. Tried it a second time and no luck. I think I will try wrapping in the towel tight and squeeking between my legs next. It worked on the back legs and head between my arm.s.. I am finding hard to do those front feet. Try later again tonight or tomorrow.. He did the thumping of the feet when he got down off my lap.. lol

Newton got his front nails clipped tonight!!!!

Dark nail tip — if you have a bunny with dark nails and you can’t see the quik. Use a flashlight to highlight the quick and then use your own fingers (on your non-cutting hand) to mark where the quick ends, and just don’t cut past your finger— as ouch!, you’d be cutting your own finger then.