Is Styptic Powder Safe?

[Bones]

I was clipping Spelda’s nails and I cut one to short so without thinking I used some dog, cat & bird styptic powder to stop the bleeding. Is this safe or should I remove it?

[Sam and Lady's Human]

I’m pretty sure it is, I think there’s a thing about it up in bunny info.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Yup here ya go- https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/21/PID/940/Default.aspx

[Bones]

Thanks

[RabbitPam]

A safe alternative also is using plain corn starch, like you may have in your kitchen. I just put a small dish of the stuff next to me when I trim Sammy’s nails so if it bleeds I can quickly dust some on or dip the toe into the dish asap. Haven’t needed it in a couple of years, with the press/press/clip method, however.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Hey whats the press press clip method?

[equalsign]

Styptic powder is supposed to be safe. I’m with RabbitPam though: just use corn starch. It’s cheaper and doesn’t cause any pain. I’m not sure how much they can feel it on their nails, but I know the stuff burns pretty badly on my face.

[Bones]

Thanks, I was using corn starch but the styptic powder seems to work faster. A lot of styptic powders have painkiller in them.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I’ve never used it but its supposed to be safe. Cornstarch should work just as well, Bones is right though there is supposed to be a pain killer in Styptic somight be nicer to use it. Never have used it though, very lucky to not quick them-I’ve quicked everyone once and that’s it.

[lzrddr]

Funny… I looked in my kitchen and there is no corn starch there (and never has been).. but we have tons of styptic powder in there. As for if it’s safe or not, it is a very useful product for stopping a nails bleeding… but I would not coat the entire foot or leg in it as ingesting lots of styptic powder would make any rabbit (or any other pet for that matter) pretty ill (cauterize their mouth!). I personally have been disappointed by the use of corn starch (did try it on a dog’s nail at a friends house- he had no styptic powder and he did have corn starch… dog’s nail kept on bleeding… eventually we drove to my house and took care of the problem).

[RabbitPam]

LOL Remind me not to eat any of your home made biscuits!

I haven’t found the corn starch to stop it instantly, but with a bit of it, a tissue and a little pressure it didn’t keep bleeding for long, or much, at all. It’s hard to avoid cutting the quick, but if at all possible, it’s best to learn a method that avoids it entirely (which is why I have advocated the ‘press, press, clip’ method for years) and maybe cut much less off each nail and do it more frequently to avoid nearing the quick totally.

PRESS, PRESS, CLIP METHOD:

Set the clip on the spot where you will cut a nail while holding the bunny. Press the nail without cutting. Press again same spot without cutting, if the bunny does not pull away, 3rd time cut. What this does is have the bunny work with you as a warning if you touch the quick. If the bunny yanks the foot away, you have touched it. Go back, find a spot closer to the tip to press, and do the 3 tries again. Say it out loud to help you remember. Kind of a sing song way of doing it. Your voice can even be soothing to your bunny as you do it.

[Bones]

I am really nervous when I clip my animals nails. I tried the press, press, clip’ method before but it made me so nervous that I could not bring myself to clip the nail. Can you use rotary tools on rabbits? I have a rotary tool that I bought for my dog’s nails that would make trimming the rabbit’s nails so easy but I am worried that the noise would be stressful to the rabbits.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I bought the PediPaws rotary tool for my buns. I mostly wanted it to round out Olivia’s nails because they get so sharp and she scratches me. I figured I could also use it on her instead of clipping her nails since she hates getting it done. The noise didn’t bother her too much but I just found it took way too long to get the job done. She got way too impatient so I just gave up. I think it’s easier to just clip and get it done.

What colour are your bunnie’s nails?

[tanlover14]

All of my buns have weird nails… not sure if it’s just the breed but my vet was shocked by the color of their nails and told us to just cut off the very tip to make sure we don’t get the quick. It’s worked well so far — we just clip where it starts to curve. Haven’t gotten a bunny youch yet!

[Bones]

I had one of those PediPaws before but it took so long to trim my dogs nails so I got the Dremel 3000 and now it gos by so fast but it is very noisy. My rabbits have dark brown nails. I can see the quick but on two of Spelda’s nails the quick went all the way to the end so even though I only took off a tiny piece of the nail I still cut the quick. I like the rotary tool because even if you can’t see the quick you will see a lighter area in the center of the nail when you are getting close to it.

[Author]

Messages