Nail Clipping Fail

[MayaConsuelo]

I feel so bad! I decided to clip Mr. Bun-Bun’s nails tonight for the first time ever. I got puppy nail clippers and waited until a friend was over to help. His nails haven’t been clipped since he was fixed, over two months ago, before I cut them they were sticking out about 1/2 cm past the fuzzy paw fur. When the vet did it he was sedated and they were QUITE short.

I tried the trick with the flashlight to see where the quick ends, and I swear I could see absolutely nothing. The light didn’t go through his nails at all. I ended up guessing, but was careful not to cut them as short as the vet had, thinking that meant it would be safe. I got 8 nails done and then waaaaaahhhhh I cut the quick . Oddly enough he didn’t freak out, although he kicked and fussed when I clipped the other nails. I held him down and applied pressure for about 5 minutes, my friend was there to bring paper towels, and I used this powdered herb called San Qi that we use in Chinese medicine to stop bleeding (it’s related to ginseng root and stops bleeding as fast as styptic powder.) I wiped his paw clean later to make sure he wouldn’t lick it off.

I don’t freak out over blood at all but I just feel SO BAD for hurting Mr. Bun-Bun. The girl who I adopted him from said that happened before (and she would take him to a groomer.) So I don’t think that paying to have it done by a groomer would be any less stressful for him. I’m going to wait a couple days before I attempt his back feet. I guess I will be cutting off way less (even though I thought I was being conservative enough.) Are there any other tricks with these dark nails? What the heck can I do? Can I just approximately measure them, how many mm does a mini rex’s nails grow each month?

P.S. He’s totally fine now and didn’t even hold a grudge… what a sweetie.

[MayaConsuelo]

Oh yeah I left out the best part, I decided to do this while wearing white sweatpants. I’m smart like that.

[Michelle&Lolli]

When my friend and I clip Lolli’s nails, we just do a tiny bit at the tip. We have cut her quick before as well. So now she’d rather come over more often and I’d rather clip a little at a time and do it more often. Either way, Lolli just wishes we’d leave her the heck alone but she doesn’t really get a vote. Poor girl. lol And lolli’s nails seem to grow slow too. I’m sorry I’m not more help. It’s hard to see her quick too. Which is why I prefer to clip less and do it more often if need be.

[LoveChaCha]

My friend and I used to trim my bunny’s nails. Now I am comfortable doing it myself.

Rabbit nails .. the growth varies honestly. Chacha’s nails grow quick, so I need to trim her nails monthly. When I see the nails sticking out from under her fur, that is when I know it is time. I trim very little so I don’t hurt her. I have not cut her quick, in fact, the vet assistant did when I made an appointment with a previous vet, lol.

I would go for trimming a little at a time. Also, there is a hidden nail on the front paws. O_o;;

[MayaConsuelo]

I wondered what people with black bunnies do… but it’s probably exactly the same, that light didn’t shine through his nails even a tiny bit!
Turns out I didn’t need my friend to help holding or clipping, but I needed him to run around getting the paper towels and San Qi powder (which I didn’t have set out ahead of time… duh.) I really thought I wouldn’t get close to the quick. Guess I was wrong.
Yeah since vets and groomers also cut the quick often, there’s no point in paying for the service! I’ll just cut a much smaller portion when I attempt his back feet. I was wondering, do the back and front paw nails grow at different rates? Because his front paws seemed to have much longer nails in proportion.

Yeah I know about the hidden nails, on their “thumbs” Bun-Bun actually lost one of those on his vet trip, he scrabbled at the vet and the nail slipped off… with no bleeding?!?!? So he was left with a little nub and the nail had to grow back. So those are still short.

My friend wanted to know why I had to cut his nails at all. I said it’s because they run on their feet and certain breeds are prone to foot problems. Honestly, how long of a nail will cause a problem?

[Michelle&Lolli]

Rex’s are prone to sore hocks. I usually know it’s time for a nail trim when Lolli’s hocks start getting those little red spots. I’m fairly certain she gets the sore hocks cause her nails don’t allow her to properly sit on her hind legs if they are just the tiniest bit too long. So maybe that can be your gauge on Mr Bunny as well. And if they start curving some, they need a clip.

Lolli’s nails are too long in my opinion, but they grow so slow and the quick hasn’t retreated at all. Which I’m bummed about because I would like them SHORT. They are probably a few millimeters past her toes. if you saw her, you’d probably think she needs a nail trim. lol s

[MayaConsuelo]

How do you see sores on her feet? My bunny’s back feet are completely covered with long fur. I’d have to dig in there to see anything. Although I suppose you can see by the way they are moving. Also, Bun-Bun is a mini rex, does that change anything? He’s pretty small, under 4 pounds. I guess I don’t know much about sore hocks. He’s only on tile, wood flooring, and carpeting.

[jerseygirl]

The other risk is the can catch them on things if left too long. The rexes nails can appear long though as they don’t have that longer guard hair covering the paws like other breeds.

Cutting the quick is prob more traumatic for us to see then for the rabbit to feel. Mr BunBun seem to be over it.

You could try doing small tip trims on all the nails then do a seond round. Or you could go for more regular tip trims. The technique I find best though is the “press, press, clip” method. So you apply pressure with the clippers where you plan to cut a few times before you fully clip. If you’re too close to the quick the rabbit will react to the pressure. So then you can move the cutters back a bit and try again.

[MayaConsuelo]

OK I feel better about trying again tomorrow. His back nails definitely need to be trimmed, I can hear them clicking on the ground even though I don’t see them curling yet. I am going to cut MUCH less than I think I should to be on the safe side. It really must not be as painful as it looks, since he sat calmly in my lap while I applied pressure to his nail.

[jerseygirl]

There is a clipper on the market that is supposed to detect the quick. Really don’t know how effective it would be.
I find the back nails easier to trim. Goodluck!

[LoveChaCha]

Oh wow jerseygirl, could you send that trimmer to me?

Black bunnies nails.. pawh. If nails are left unclipped it can get caught in the carpet -_-;;

i’ve heard of people using flour if the quick is cut. I must go trim chacha’s back nails now.. ieee. She will not like me!

[MayaConsuelo]

Better success today! I grazed another quick but barely any blood at all came out. There are 3 left to be done but he got too fussy. I will try later. Maybe I should just do one nail a day

[jerseygirl]

Regular trims will help the quick to recede too.

@ Brittany, I haven’t read any review on that trimmer. Just recall someone posted about them once. ; )

[MayaConsuelo]

@jerseygirl, that makes sense! As the nail grows, the quick must grow too (up to a certain point) to nourish the nail. That would also explain why I didn’t cut the nails nearly as short as the vet did, but it still bled. I’ll do it monthly from now on.

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