Bunny burrito… Not happening! Need some other suggestions…

[Hunny's Momma]

Alright… Hunny needs her nails trimmed & I also suspect her scent glands could use a lil’ cleaning too (she’s got bit of a funky odor) BUT I can not get her to cooperate…she’s not a fan of blankets unless she’s digging the crap outta them so when I try to scoop her up with one she freaks & runs for cover.  I’ve read how to do it (sounds simple enough) & I’ve watched videos (looks simple enough) so I know I could get it done if only she’d give me the chance.  I figure next week when she’s at the vets getting fixed I’d have them take care of both but after that it’s on me…

[Esarv]

What i do when todd needs his nails cut i either put him on a high table in a room hes not used to and give him treats and do one foot slowly at a time. OR i have someone hold him (that hes not used to seeing everyday) (usually i have my sister hold him) like facing front with his feet out then i cut one foot at a time, he doesnt freak out as much bc he doesnt know whos holding him so he kinda freezes since hes scared then after i give him a treat and of course hes a little mad at me and runs into his condo but he comes back out soon after haha … I hope this helps!

[Freyja]

the best way i’ve found (i think someone on here actually recommended it) is to give them a big hunk of banana, they’re usually so enamored by it that they will let you trim their nails while they nom down

[RabbitPam]

Esarv makes excellent suggestions. Also, try using a towel for a burrito instead of the familiar blankies. You can also squat or sit with a towel between your legs, drop bunny between your knees, wrap up and clamp the bunny/burrito snugly between your thighs while fishing out paws. I like having the vet do it, also. It can be very cheap. Have your vet show you when you are there, so you can at least get a good hands on lesson on the trimming part, which helps.
She can also show you how they hold down a bunny on their examining table firmly, the right way, which will help. I am astonished at how easily they take command and the bunny behaves for fast snipping, but it’s not at home in familiar surroundings, which helps control the bunny also.

[kamdynandsunshinesmom]

I take my rabbit into a room that stresses her out like the bathroom then I just flip her on her back and trim her nails it takes about 2 mins she is stressed that she doesn’t fight to get her toe nails trimmed!

[JustBun]

I’ve watched the bunny burrito videos as well and then tired it. I would like to see the people in the video try with my bun, he’s impossible! He hates his face covered so that does NOT calm him and when he’s on his back he just kicks and squirms until you have to let go. So far what has worked for me to trim nails is to have the bun lay down next to me when he wants his pets, then he usually kicks out his back feet. IF he will let me hold a back foot, I can pet him hold the foot and have someone else trim a nail or two before he’s done. Also, giving a treat and while he’s sitting I can position the nails to cut. For the front nails he really doesn’t mind, as long as he is getting pets in too. Good luck in finding something that works.

[lola_bunny_21]

My little one seems to hate my attempt at a bunny burito – she squirms and wiggles around until i have to give up and let her go! So am also looking for alternative ways to get her to sit still whilst i trim her nails (which fyi are super sharp) i have tried someone holding her whilst i quickly trim – but this didnt work too well.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Bindi also refuses to be burritoed. Trimming his nails is a two man job. I get my husband to hold him on his shoulder (baby burping style) and I clip his nails that way. This is the best method for all my rabbits. Olivia REALLY hates the nail trims so to reduce her stress, we do one foot a day for four days.

[RabbitPam]

LOL, LPT. I remember the one foot at a time method. Trim 3 nails, chase rabbit for 2 days. Trim 6 more nails, chase rabbit for 3 days. etc.

I also want to caution against putting a bunny on its back. Bunnies will startle suddenly and try to flip themselves over, and if done when you don’t have a good grip (or too tight a grip) or at a height, your bunny can break its own back. It’s one of the worst and easiest ways for a bunny to be hurt. If a bunny struggles, let him down quickly and right away, since a twist and a fall will be worse. You can always start over at another time.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Pam, thats the reason I never try to trance my own buns, except Olivia. She doesnt struggle. Bindi will struggle to the point its dangerous when the vet tries. Hes not a trancer. I find trancing a difficult rabbit just too risky.

[mocha200]

RP: The only way I can clip Mocha’s nails is when he is on his back. I knew that it is easy for them to break their backs but now this makes me worried about clipping his nails!

[mocha200]

Also, When you put a rabbit on its back is it always trancing?

[Stickerbunny]

Not all bunnies trance, mocha.

I can’t do the burrito with my two and mine have no qualms about jumping away from me if they see the clipper, food just gets taken and they run with it. High up places they are perfectly happy to jump off of. So… my boyfriend holds them while I clip. It really is a LOT easier if you have a helper. Takes about 5 minutes for both buns, he just holds them up to his chest with a little pressure on the shoulders. If I didn’t have a helper, I would just take them to the vet tbh, mine are just not OK with clipping.

[RabbitPam]

Mocha, no, trancing is a step beyond holding them on their back. It is a way to calm them into not responding. Usually, if your bunny holds still while you have him on his back, he’s just accepting of that position. Some bunnies are OK with it. (Spockie was very easy to hold in different positions, but not for clipping.) If your bunny doesn’t mind, you can hold them briefly that way, but the second they want up, let them go without struggle. Some bunnies don’t mind heights either, but won’t know if a height is too much to fall, so get lower whenever you release your bun. I just do not recommend it for nail trims, which they don’t really like.

There were discussions on trancing a few years back so I picked up a bit of info. from that. The point that stuck in my mind was that what appeared to make them calm and relaxed (ie, it was thought that they must like it since they seemed so relaxed) was actually activating an instinct to appear dead to fool a predator. They become totally immobile when tranced, and in the wild, ie. genetically, they would fool a predator that the chase was over, or they were gone if the predator detected them via motion. Once safe, they would spring to life, often flipping and running. So it takes an experienced trancer to do it safely. I don’t see the point, since it means they may not be relaxed after all, and not enjoying it.

If Mocha will let you clip while on her back, just support her well, do it close to the ground, and release her right away if she wants. Last time I did Sammy’s, I propped her back against my chest and she held still for it, much to my surprise. I’m due for a clip again, so I’ll see if it works a second time.

[mocha200]

Thanks Pam! I will be very careful next time. I always do it with two people normally so that helps. I always heard that about trancing too. That they do it out of fright! That’s why I was so afraid!

Not to change the subject but how do you guess hold your buns for cleaning their sent glands. I always put Mocha on his back but Lulu will not go that way. I could try propping her against my chest like Pam mentioned but not sure if she will stay.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I trance Olivia because she automatically trances when I start to flip her. For Bindi and Stormy, I use the two-man baby burping position I use for nail clipping. Its more difficult to see what Im doing but its the only way to do it with my boys.

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