Bunny Nails

[JackRabbit]

Are there any guidelines (or does anyone have anything you go by) for determining when to trim bunny nails? Something like “when they are x length beyond the quick”?

[Deleted User]

For me JR, it was when I could hear Henry ‘tap tap tap’ down the hallway, ha ha ha ha! (we always knew when he was coming!)
BUT I left his way to long (we spent weeks arguing over who was going to pick him up and hold him and who was gonna cut!). I used our human nail clipper’s and had to do 2 cuts on each nail.
I don’t know this, but my plan is – when the dog’s go for a bath and haircut every 3 months we are gonna do Henry’s nails. That way we won’t forget and hopefully his nails won’t ever get that long again…… I felt terrible.

[Stickerbunny]

When they get long enough it seems like a risk they might catch on something. Generally, try to keep them just past the fur on my short hairs feet.

[kirstyol]

It varies from rabbit to rabbit, a previous rabbit of mine had really slow growing nails and only needed them trimmed maybe once every few months. Bramble needs his done at least every four weeks but he has really long quicks so his nails cant be trimmed too short, I got the vet to do Brambles while he was being neutered and I just plan on keeping them around that length as he has dark nails its really hard to see where his quick is but I know its long because the poor wee guy has bled once when the vet did them when he was a baby and jumped and ran away one time I did them, I obviously caught his quick but he didn’t bleed that time luckily. Sometimes you get lucky and a rabbit has nails like humans that are pink and white, in that case you can do what you would do with your own and trim the white bit off. Unfortunately Bramble’s nails are dark brown so we just have to use our best judgement.

[MoxieMeadows]

Try shining a strong flashlight under the dark nails, it might help Kirstyol.
I hate trimming bunny nails. Especially Moxie’s because 1) Her feet are so fluffy 2) She has dark nails 3) She will have non of it.
I would just use your best judgement, I’m sorry I’m not much help.

[kirstyol]

I tried shining a torch and it didn’t help too much, his nails are a really really dark brown almost black and he has very fluffy feet as well. I am hoping as he gets older and now that he is neutered he will be better at sitting still for longer and maybe I can just trim a wee bit at a time at the moment I just have to snip a tiny bit off each one because he will try and get away if he is sitting too long. Strangely he doesn’t seem too bothered about the actual nail cutting, he just seems to hate sitting still.

[JackRabbit]

Decided to give nail trims a try tonight. Since Kieko is the closest to being a lap bunny, I thought we’d do her tonight after she had a little play time. She is not a thumper, but she must have heard us talking about trimming her nails because she came out, looked at me and hubby, and went in the tunnel and started thumping! I swear the bunny understands English!

[Ellien]

AWh Keiko sounds like a smart bunny My Binky hates being picked up so it makes it difficult to cut his nails but I get concerned that the length could hurt his skin when he scratches. I do a bunny-burrito and just talk calmly to him and in a quick 5 minutes it’s all done. He does hide and thump for a little afterwards but I usually feel guilty and give him a treat I find that its very helpful to have a good quality and sharp animal nail clipper, so its less strain on his nails and it ensures a clean trim so nothing will get snagged on any uneven nails. Also don’t feel you need to cut off a lot. If you’re worried about hitting the quick just trim a little :]

[JackRabbit]

We have been taking them to the vet for nail trims or having my son do them. It’s been 2 months (we normally have nails trimmed every 5 to 6 weeks) so I started looking at their nails and wondering how long they would be when its time to cut them. I thought I’d try trimming them myself, but it figures that the one I wanted to start with has black nails and heard us talking . . .

[BrunosMama]

On the topic of nails, does anyone have any tips for trimming? It usually takes both me and hubby to do it, I hold and he trims. But it’s like defusing a bomb! We both hold our breathe, close our eyes (I do anyways) and man, if he cuts too close and they bleed, my husband cries! He feels awful he hurt his babies. There must be an easier way! Btw, how do bunnies in the wild keep nails trim?

[Nicolle]

My rabbits nails are really thin (only young) and not really past the quick but they are sharp when I took him to the vet he said to use an Emory board to file them a bit blunter. Maybe do this on a regular basis? I haven’t tried yet as did attempt the bunny burrito but he’s a squirmer!

[JackRabbit]

BM, I agree! I get so nervous and hubby gets irritated because I’m keep saying “be careful!” when my son does them. My son stays calm but is now telling me that its time I learned to do them myself (bratty 20 tear-old!). Going to think about maybe possibly giving it a try with Marlee tonight. If I cry, then its off to the vet for nail trims on Monday.

[JackRabbit]

I decided to take all three bunnies to one of our vet offices for nail trims this time. They fought as hard if not harder than at home when my son does them. Was not a pleasant experience. Two of Marlee’s nails were cut right at the quick. Lots of thumping. If we do vet tech nail trims again, we’ll wait for an opening at the other vet’s.

So we get home and let everyone out of their carriers. Kieko heads to her litterbox/hay. Moshi sniffs around for a minute then heads to the litterbox/hay. Marlee hopped in a large circle around the bunny room, turned her back to me for a few seconds then peed right outside the crate where the litterboxes/hay racks are, then hopped into the litterbox and stared at me with the meanest look she could conjure up. That little bunny was PO’d! At least its over.

[BrunosMama]

So…We were told when we first became bunny parents that to trim nails, gently lean the bunny back until it zonks out. This makes it easier to clip and they don’t struggle as much. This is how we have always done them. I recline them in my arms on a table, and my husband clips. This works fairly well, but is there an easier way?

[Author]

Messages