do you or your vet clip your buns nails?

[evansvillegirl26]

With my past buns I always had the vet’s office clip their nails.  I was thinking about doing Tonk’s myself. I was wondering who out there does their own bun’s? I just don’t want to mess up and hurt her. Is it easy to do? Any tips?? Thanks!!!

[Beka27]

vet

vet

VET!!!!

i tried doing Mead’s a couple times myself and it was such a huge to-do. i take her there and clip clip clip clip. she’s done in seconds. to top it off, Mike doesn’t like to help me restrain her… so that makes it tough. i prefer the vet tech being “the bad guy” rather than us.

[osprey]

The rescue I volunteer with offers free nail clipping, so I bring mine to an adoption show every couple of months to get their nails done.  I have done it a few times myself, but it is stressful on me and the buns.  I’d rather have them hate one of the other volunteers than hate me

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I do them myself (Now acutally I literally do them myself-I don’t even need help holding them!!) and I’ve never hit the quick before or really had a problem….I DID trim my four guinea pigs nails while I was growing up so I came into it pretty experienced.

[JK]

I take Edson to the rescue for nail trims, anal gland cleaning & ear cleaning!!!! I’m toooooo chicken!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Whoops didn’t realize there was a second part to the question!!

I find it quite easy to do, it depends on your rabbit too-ie. is he calm? Does he trance easily? (Do you know how to trance them?)

Also, are the nails light colored or dark colored? Light colored makes it easy to see the quick (the vein in the nail) and you avoid trimming to close to the quick. Kahlua has almost all dark nails, I use her light nails a guide -how far I trim them is how far I trim the others, (I do it often and only take a little bit though) so I’ve never actually hit the quick!

You want to buy appropriate clippers, don’t use your nail clippers, they’ll kind of squish the nails.

[Bunnies4ever]

Trimming nails causes way too much anxiety for me and my buns. Chloe and Kahula will tolerate it, but Stella and Luna freak out so I take them to HRS and let them do it. Of course, they are darling angels when they do it, but when I try, they run and hide! If you do it enough it does become easier. Kahlua’s and Chloe’s nails are dark. Stella and Luna’s nails are light which makes it easier. I make sure I don’t trim too close to the quick, so I only trim a little each time.

[bunnytowne]

I do them myself  had cats did them too. so not too hard for me. if the bun sits still some I can take a front foot and do it easily and then the back ones I have to burrito roll them. I sometimes cut too short not often. now Nora Angora has dark nails even tho she is white she has black too. makes it more difficult. I have to go easy with her. and burrito roll her for all 4    once she is going on her back I pet her cheek and talk softly to her so she relaxes and stops fighting  being on her back when I do that. . then I burrito roll her and repeat soothing and calming her then trim . Cotton is used to it when younger he would struggle now that he is used to it and older  he doesnt’ struggle no more.and ruby is sooo laid back she is like whatever. it all depends on the bun and their age and  what they are used to as far as it being no problem and difficult  with Nora Angora tho when I have her fur trimmed i will take her to the vet groomer to do it and may let them trim her nails depends. I like doing stuff like that myself tho. then they get used to it and it gets easier. usually what makes them break their trance is the snip sound of the clippers

[bunnytowne]

oh with nora she isn’t used to nail trims so once I finish the front if she is getting out of her back position I may do the back the next day giving her a break or I hold her upright for a bit then try again I have done both with her only trimmed her nails twice so far. putting them at ease on their back  is important if they aren’t used to it. talking softly petting a cheek seeing them relax then trim some more. a no rushing attitude with the bun but quick with the trim to finish them all 

[Beka27]

^^^i did it that way before bunnytowne, one paw at a time, but i got so fed up with it taking me 2-3 days to trim nails… i’m not that patient!

[Floppy]

I could do it…but I am left with scratches. LOL so I get them done
at For other living things by the rabbit haven folks!

[evansvillegirl26]

thanks for the tips!! I don’t think i’m brave enough to do yet!! I live less then a mile from petsmart and they have a vet’s office there i’m going to call tomorrow and see how much it will be to do them!!

[babybunsmum]

i do them myself.  but i did take pinky-poo into the vet for her first nail trim because i wasn’t comfortable handling her yet… she’s so big & feisty!  i’m so glad i did that because they had a great way to trim bunny nails that i have since copied with great success at home.  and by myself i might add!

at the vet they set pinky down on a towel & then wrapped the towel over her one way only so that she’d feel more secure.  one vet tech held her body while the other gently clipped the nails on the front & back feet that were on the unwrapped side (i pet her head) and then they reversed the whole thing to get the other side.  what i found interesting was that the vet tech doing the clipping barely lifted her paws off the table.  infact her back heel was still touching the table while those nails were clipped.  i think that’s why this way works so well.

at home i place bun on a towel on the bath counter (so it’s not too slippery) and give lots of pets.  i ‘surround’ them by leaning over them and wrapping one arm around the head & the other around the bum so they feel secure & can’t move.  i find neither of my buns stuggles too much with me up on the counter anyways.  then i clip the feet on the side thats away from me.  i barely lift the feet up as i’m doing this… i slide my fingers under a foot so they’re ‘standing’ on my fingers & then use the finger to seperate toes so i can clip.  then face bun in the other direction to do the other side.

works like a charm with very little struggle.  the only struggle i’ve gotten from doing it this way so far is some times they’ll move the foot i’m trying to clip.  i recommend trying this way without clipping the nails… just put bun on the counter & hold them there by ‘surrounding’ them and then briefly hold each foot.  you can then set them back down where they normally run free and give them a treat.

oh and always make sure to have corn starch & q-tips nearby incase you clip a quick accidentally!

[bunnytowne]

wow I am going to try that sounds like it works well.  cotton will let me do the front like that these days Laith did that way very well too I didn’t even cover him. hmmm. I sure could try that on the girls tho. the practice sessions and such great idea.

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