Help with nails!

[Cinnabun]

Cinnabun has been so great, but we have a huge problem on our hands.  She do not like getting picked up! She sometimes lets us pet her and we have even got her to jump up on our lap using pellets as bait, but there is no way that she would even let us think about picking her up.  If I just want to cuddle and hold her (which I do oh-so-much!), this wouldn’t really be a problem.

 

The problem is that we need to cut her nails! They are getting really long and even when she puts her paws on our skin it is starting to hurt. 

I think if I could get her safely on her back (which I have done before)  she’ll be tranced and not mind us cutting her nails.  But I don’t really know how to get her on her back!  I was wondering if there are any advice from mommies and daddies of lovable bunnies that don’t like being held at all.  How do you guys trim their nails and do the necessary maintenance on your bunnies? Please help!

[jerseygirl]

I lot of members her have suggested taking their buns to the vet to let the technician do the nails and other maintance for a small fee. It’s important her nails get attended to as not only can she injure you but she could get them caught and tear one out. You don’t want that! I would suggest you get the nails done by the technician now and get them to show you how best to do it and generally about handling her. Then, hopefully you’ll be able to do these things yourself in the future and Cinnabun will become more accustomed to being handled – fingers crossed!

[bunnytowne]

what I find easiest is to ….. Put left hand on buns rump.  Put right hand under the front legs and slowly well not real slow put bun over on it’s back. I talk to bun as I do it and gently pet the side of buns face once on his back.  That helps keep bun calm if they struggle.  I like to place them between 2 pillows.  Or on your lap head towards your knees. 

If you are left handed of course switch hands for your ease of turning bun over.

Also there is the bunny burrito.  It is on this site somewhere the directions for that.  ummm…  yeah go up top under bunny info   then monthly maintenance  I think the bunny burrito directions are in there. 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I do almost the same thing but I find if I flip them over slowly they get frantic and fight it. I do a 1,2,3 FLIP and while holding them very securely flip them over in less then a second. Try both ways and see what you can do. Once they are upside down, it’s a cinch!

You can also try the burrito method, wrapping them up in a towel very securely. Pull one leg out at a time to clip.

Or the vets office will do it too!

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Another suggestion is you could cut front toes while she is on the ground. It sometimes works for me.
Yea, I have no problem getting Fern on her back but when I touch her feet while she is on her back she freaks out. I feel your pain, I am going to get a vet to show me how to do it.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Have you thought about trying the Pedi Paws? I’ve been working with it lately and it does a great job. Most rabbit have a big aversion to being put on their back – especially to trim nails. I found that I can secure a rabbit that is upright on the floor (like Moonlight_Wolf mentioned) and take one nail at a time and trim it, you can use this for nail clippers as well. Have you tried the bunny burrito?

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