I cannot clip my bunny's nails without them bleeding

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This topic has 4sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by Estecca.

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- 02/18/2012 at 11:44 AM
  Estecca
  Participant
  26 posts
  I have had my bunny for a little over 6 months now, and I love him to pieces. However, I’ve had a terrible time trying to clip his nails. He hates to be held in any position other than secure against me, so to trim his nails I have my boyfriend hold him securely while I take a paw and go through and trim. The first clipping went fine, the second I accidentally trimmed one down too far and caused him to bleed. Ever since, he’s been very afraid of getting his nails trimmed, unsurprisingly, and I feel awful.
  
  However, now the situation is even worse. I always let his nails grow out very long (they typically visibly extend past the fur on his paws) so as to be very careful and only trim them down a little. Unfortunately, the last couple times I tried to clip his nails, no matter how little I trimmed (we’re talking a millimeter), some of his nails inevitably bleed and I end up crying and feeling horrible while the poor thing licks the blood off his paws. The last time, a couple weeks ago, having put off clipping for some time, I clipped the first nail on his back paw, which was wicked long, and it bled. I looked at what I trimmed off, and it was literally barely visible, just the very tippity tip. I have no idea what to do, cause his nails get so long and what am I supposed to do when I can’t take off the very tip without hurting him? I feel absolutely awful.
  
  Can anyone please help? Should I take him to the vet?
- 02/18/2012 at 11:56 AM
  kinggoblin
  Participant
  416 posts
  The longer his nails are allowed to get the longer the quick will grow and you have to trim very little and more often until it starts receding. You could get a little dog nail grinder and grind a little off at a time, other than that I think he would need to go to a vet and see what they say but I’m not sure what they could do besides cut them and have to put quick stop on if they bleed and it would hurt.
- 02/18/2012 at 12:01 PM
  emkvet
  Participant
  377 posts
  Cutting rabbits’ nails is tough, and very hard to judge. I would say to just schedule a nail trim for him at the vet next time (it’ll probably be free or something like $5). It’s easier for them because they can have someone hold the bunny and have the other person clip. That’s what I prefer doing; it’s a lot less stressful! You can also talk to your vet about the length of his quicks and see if there’s something they can suggest. Good luck!
- 02/18/2012 at 6:51 PM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  I would have your vet do it for you this time, and alert the vet to the problem so they can prepare if they will be cutting the quick. No one wants to do that, but they do grow longer the less you trim, so as mentioned, you want to cut a tiny bit off more frequently so the quick recedes. Perhaps the vet will be able to numb the toes a bit to do the trim for now. I’m not sure, but a vet must face this on occasion with shelter rabbits that have been neglected.
  
  Then you can try my favorite nail trim technique, the Press, Press, Clip. You take a paw, one toe, and put the scissors against the toenail where you want to trim and press but only touch the nail. Do that twice, saying it out loud. If the quick is being touched, your bunny will yank his paw away. Let him. Then try again at a spot that cuts off less and is closer to the tip. If you press twice and the bunny holds still for it, go ahead and clip that spot because it’s all nail and is safe. You can easily get away without any accidental bleeding using this method, but it will only work if there is more nail than grown out quick.
  
  You reminded me that i am due to do Sammy’s, and her back nails may have longer quicks now than the front. Have a dish of plain corn starch handy to put on the toe to stop the bleeding. It is like a natural styptic powder.
- 02/19/2012 at 1:45 PM
  Estecca
  Participant
  26 posts
  Thanks everyone, I’m going to take him to the vet for a trim, I had no idea the quick could grow at all.
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