There is no alternative to clipping, unfortunately. Rabbits can’t file them down themselves. It’s really not as hard and stressful as all that, though.

Here’s a good video on nail clipping (made by one of our own BB members )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlV-2S6cQpg

(sorry, you will have to cut and paste, the link likes giving me trouble).

If you find your bunny is too difficult to do it this way, you can use the two-man method. This is how I do my bunnies’ nails. My husband holds the bunny “baby-burping style” and I clip the nails. If my buns are really stressed out I will do one side (front and back feet) and then leave the other side for the next day. You can also use a towel wrapped around bunny for a bit of restraint if needed. Caution is advised with this method, since some bunnies will struggle.

I think any vet would be able to trip your buns’ nails, so I wouldn’t worry about that. It’s probably a good idea to get the vet to show you how first, if you are nervous and/or your bun is really difficult.

LPT said it best. I also was going to suggest watching the video. And if you can get a second person, with our without wrapping your bunny in a burrito, it works the best. The more you do it, the more the bunny will accept that it’s “just a nail trim” and the worst of the struggling will happen only at the beginning.

It may help to have your tools ready ahead of time. I have the clippers, a towel (med. or small and thin), some treats where I can reach them later, and a small dish of plain corn starch. If you have any styptic powder in the house, that’s good too. It’s only necessary if you accidentally snip the quik, which will bleed. Dip that toe into the powder or apply it to the toe.

And of course, my favorite advice is the “Press, press, clip” method. You get toenail in hand, press the scissors against it but don’t cut the first time. Just press down, then do that again, then snip on the third closure. It’s because – if you are too low and touch the quick, bunny will yank his paw away fast. Then you want to place the scissors a bit closer to the tip. It gets bunny to help you with the process. I haven’t cut a quik and made her bleed in a long time by using this method.

I am not confident doing nails and living by myself I can’t get assistance. I have been lucky enough to find a groomer who comes to the house, charges $25 an hour and has two buns (an angora and a silver fox) of her own. Piglets haircut went off perfectly without any drama’s he even gave Peta a lick. I will be getting Peta back for manicures in the next few weeks, Piglets first trim took longer than expected (and cost $220 less than the last attempt at the vet) so we didn’t have time to do the manicures last Sunday. For $25 and the convenience of being in your own home (and on a weekend) I have decided it is the only way to go…. Peta estimates it will only take an hour or less to do the whole 6 buns.