Handling my buns to trim nails

[hummerbee]

So I’ve gotten around to having my first bunny for a year now, and he was not really raised to handled from his first owner (his “cage” was a tote with chicken wire as a lid). I’ve kind of accepted that he won’t allow me to pick him up, nor do I have any reason to do so in the first place. He and his mate have been healthy and last time I trimmed his nails I had my husband hold him as best he could while I trimmed.

I’d love to be able to trim both of their nails on our own without a scary ride to the vets for a trim. My little lady will need a trim again soon too, but she had a pedicure when she got spayed in September so they aren’t long.

I’ve watched the video on the press/press/clip method of trimming, and saw the related videos of massaging and handling bunnies in general. It seemed to me like those bunnies in each video were much more used to being handled and it couldn’t possibly be that easy when I do attempt to do the same thing.

Are there any suggestions to work my way up to this or should I just go for it? Last time I tried (a couple of weeks ago) to put the male on my lap while I sat on the floor next to them with my legs out in front of me he jumped away, same for my female.

[Ruby n Max]

Hello! I am glad you looked up videos on this, I do think that they are very helpful. I would work up to nail trims by working on handling your bunnies more and getting them used to being touched everywhere. They may not like this at first, but with time they will learn that you are not someone to be feared and will relax enough for you to clip nails. Work on touching their paws so that this is not foreign to them when you want to trim nails. It also doesn’t hurt to wait a while longer before you trim if that time is needed to build up their trust in you.

It does help to have someone hold them while you trim, like your husband has done. If he has trouble holding the bunnies, try the bunny burrito method.

Also, if you are nervous, then your buns will pick up on this and be nervous too. I know that it is easier said than done, I definitely struggle to not become nervous with nail trims. But, if I take a few deep breaths before I start I find that it really helps everyone. With time you will also become more confident in your ability to trim nails. There is nothing wrong with taking some time master something.

With that being said, I cannot make it through an entire nail trimming session without my buns kicking. When they start to get upset I set them down and hold them there while I pet them. I will do this for about 30 seconds before I continue. If they try to run away I will continue to love on them until they calm down. Something I have found that helps is to give them a chewy treat, like dried papaya or banana, right before I clip. This will distract them long enough for you to get a few nails clipped before they finish eating.

Good luck!

[kirstyol]

I stopped trying to hold Bramble to trim his nails recently, he was always reasonably ok with it but I don’t know if something happened at the vets or what but since he was neutered he doesn’t tolerate his nails being trimmed at all. eventually I took him to the vet and the tech sat him down on the table held his foot with one hand and trimmed with the other without picking him up. thinking this was a great idea this is what I do now. I get the other half to put Bramble on his knee on a pillow (Bramble tolerates this well and has done since he was a baby) and he puts his hand on his back, not to hold him down as such but just to sort of let him know to keep still, he then holds one foot with the free hand giving me one hand to hold back the fur (Bramble has really fluffy feet) and the other to trim. Since I started doing this rather than actually holding him, nail trimming has been a little easier although he is not keen on having the back feet done, I would love to know what happened to make him dislike it because he was always reasonably ok with it before.

[Author]

Messages