Bunny Nails

[LadySpades]

Hello, this is my first post so I hope I am doing it right. ‘smile’

My husband and I got a bunny last month. I had rabbits growing up, but am still learning a lot as an adult. His name is Gus and he is 4 yrs. and has a great personality.

His previous owner asked if I knew how to clip nails, and I told her I did as a kid. She said she never took him to the vet. She adopted him from rescue at 9 months.

So, after Gus is accustomed to our home I go to clip his nails with hubby’s help. I am used to gilatine clippers and rabbits who are used to being handled. Gus loves pets, but does not like to be picked up really, and grooming was not apart of his care. But he is learning.

When I clipped his nails some we’re very long, some seemed to be missing, and some had nubs that were growing or odd shaped. I did the test test clip method and he didn’t bleed or anything, but I am curious about his nails. Honestly, he was such a sweet rabbit and his ears and teeth looked ok, I didn’t really check his nails. His hocks were good too.

So my question is: do you have rabbits with nails like this? Should I expect them to grow from your experience? Do you know what might have caused his nails to be so bad (outside of not being clipped maybe?)?

I am trying to sipher if he might have gotten sick or something. We have worked on his diet and such since having him home to mostly hay, and he binkies, runs, and jumps each day, and his feet don’t seem as sore. I am just trying to learn if this could be health related, but can’t find anything online about this particular subject. I understand this is just your experience and opinions. Thanks for sharing!

[jerseygirl]

Welcome LadySpades : )

It’s great your venturing into having a bunny as an adult. I hope you and hubby are enjoying Gus.

I would guess at his nails being like this due to not being trimmed before. It sounds as some broke of completely, leaving a nub. Long nails easily snag on things and get torn. They sometimes (slowly) grow back but more often will stay as a nub. Growing at an odd angle can also be a result of them being too long.
With regular trims now, they will hopefully straigthen up and the quick will recede so you’ll eventually be able make them shorter. It’s great he coped okay with you trimming them. It’s also good his hocks haven’t suffered due to overly long nails.

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