Hi, All,

I decided it was time to pin this advice on nail trimming to the top. It is a technique I learned a while ago that helps trim nails while reducing the chance of cutting the quik and making bunny bleed and be in pain.

It is the PRESS/PRESS/CLIP technique.

You can try to hold bunny in a burrito, have a friend help to hold bunny, or have bunny sit between your thighs. (I do NOT recommend trancing or putting bunny on its back ever.)

Once you have the paw in hand, set the scissors against the nail, and press it, but do NOT clip the first time. Continue to hold, press again, then on the third press clip it through. As you do this say out loud, “press, press, clip”.

If you have gone too low on the nail, you will touch the quik, a vein that will bleed and hurt. If you touch the quik on the first press, your bunny will jerk his paw away hard. Your bunny becomes your partner who helps you to do it right. Let your bunny’s paw go and start again.

This will help you find a new spot that is closer to the tip and not hit the quik again. It’s especially helpful for dark nailed bunnies where you can’t see the color change that indicates the place of the quik.

Do this with every toe until finished. If you manage to trim without ever cutting the quik, causing bleeding and pain, your bunny will be more cooperative the next time.

And have a small dish of plain corn starch (the stuff in your kitchen baking supplies) in case he does bleed. Apply it to a bleeding toe to absorb and stop it. A styptic pen is also used (my vet did). Corn starch is also safe when bunny licks his wound.

And of course, have a treat ready to either distract bunny or reward when it’s all over. Ironically, your bunny will probably scamper around and be very happy after examining the nails and finding them a nice, shorter length. The better to do binkies with, my dears.