For brushing, I love using a lint roller (the sticky kind)! I have also used soft bristle brushes just to get the bun relaxed at the start of grooming. It works so well and only pulls the furs that are ready to come out. I don’t like that it’s a bit wasteful, but after Bun Jovi got stasis from ingesting too much fur I’m not fooling around anymore about it.

Recently I got this rubber brush (?) made by Kong that’s meant for cats (I think it’s called “groom zoom”?). It gets lots of loose fur out and is pretty gentle, but the fur just goes flying all over the place so it’s kind of messy. Lots of people also like the glove style rubber brushes, but they never worked that well for me. Each bun’s fur texture is a bit different so some things work well for some that don’t for others.

For nail trimming, do you have someone to help you? This vid has some great techniques: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9KemnaTGIs&t=78s

If your bun is ok with being handled, I would try that method as a first attempt. Have lots of treats on hand and give a treat after each foot.

If your bun is very squirrely, you can try a modified version of that method but with a helper to hold the bun while one person trims.

There are ways to desensitize buns from having their paws touched and train them that it’s not so bad, so some people are able to just trim the nails while the bun is relaxing on the ground. This works esp well if you just do a nail at a time and don’t try to do them all in one go. I thought this method was very clever but haven’t tried it:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEFrHZbw6tQ&list=PLn9xVcGXrVa5t-XUXErt_cTmjBPRKPnGZ&index=2&t=165s

Regarding flipping buns on their backs, this is controversial. I think there is a consensus that it can be stressful for the rabbit, and shouldn’t be done for prolonged periods of time. If the rabbit is flipped incorrectly, kicks while on their back, or is put back down incorrectly, they can be injured.

BUT (and this is my opinion here), if the alternative is a trip to the vet for a trim, or being wrapped in a towel and struggling for 15 min, vs. a quick flip and a nail trim that takes minutes, I think the flipping is the less stressful alternative. I have flipped my buns occasionally for this purpose, and never do it just for fun (only for nail trims or tooth checks).

Regarding trust, expect to get a few foot thumps and maybe some scornful side-eye after nail trims, but after a few treats all is usually forgiven. 🙂

Hey, I just wanted to say this quickly.. Never flip your rabbit on it’s back because that is how my last bunny recently passed. Flipping them on their back puts them in a trance, and slows their heart rate drastically, COMMONLY STOPPING the heart, causing the bun to pass. If your bunny already is squirmy and doesnt like being handled, flipping on the back is not a good choice. I recommend putting your rabbit on a high, small surface (like a table or a kitchen counter with a towel underneath for friction) so the rabbit doesn’t feel safe jumping off. Rewarding your rabbit with treats when they’re doing a good job, or even doing a “bad” job, could flip their perception on grooming, and make it a good thing. I hope this helps 🙂 Rabbits are very forgiving animals, no worries about them being mad at you! (these were my exact thoughts when I first got my rabbit!)

xylore, I’m very sorry that happened to your bunny. 🙁

Do you happen to have a reference for it slowing their heart rate? The studies I’ve read say the heart rate speeds up with trancing (similar to other stressful experiences), so I’m interested to read if slowed heart rate has been documented formally.

EDIT: Nevermind, I found a study! Very good to know and the first I had heard of the decreased heart rate phenomenon. Will share this info with the other moderators!