Nail clipping/holding

[DallasDelight]

I’ve had Dallas since June, he was 3 months then. He has gotten really close with me and he trusts me a pretty good amount, but I’ve also never done anything that would warrant any distrust, so I don’t know how easy it would be to break that. He’s still a butthead when I hold him. Usually he puts himself in the football position, he seems to be most comfortable with that, but he will only let me hold him for a few seconds, then he freaks out. Any tips on getting him used to(and preferably liking!) the idea of being held? I am very gentle and I know I am holding him the right way and I make sure I support his hind end. He’s a very calm bunny, but when I hold him he totally panics..I thought it was from being high up in the air, so I sat on the ground and held him, but it made no difference.
Now obviously, if I can’t hold him..I can’t clip his nails. I know they need to be done, obviously! I have no idea if they have ever been done in the first place since he was only 3 months. I have gotten him used to having his feet touched and he’s okay with that, do you think I could clip them without holding him? I think that’d be kind of hard because he has all black nails(of course! lol). I don’t think he’d bite me, he’s got such a gentle nature and he’s NEVER been aggressive, not to anything or anyone. Of course I’m sure that’s different if he is really scared of what I’m doing. I am so confused as to what to do! I don’t want to break his trust, but I need to get his nails clipped.

Any help?

[Dee]

I have the same problem with my bun- he is such a sweet boy, but no into being held! We adopted him too, and he had some horribly long nails. His feet would splay out when he hopped, it was so bad.

What I did is probably not recommended- but here it is anyway. I waited until he was laying down, feet extended, before approaching with my clippers. the clippers, btw, are the little ones that look like nail scissors but have a “claw” as a blade- NOT the gullotine style ones. I would pat my bun and give him a treat, then hold one of his paws while quickly snipping the nail. Many times he would jerk his foot away and jump up, so I had to be ready to release the foot/nail at any second. This did allow me to get the worst nails to a more managable length.

However, it certainly had it’s risks- such as bun pulling his nail away and my not releasing the clippers quickly enough (no damage done but I imagine he could’ve gotten his nail ripped off!). Also, since I couldn’t see very well -my bun has dark nails too! – I never got them trimmed to the pefect length. I would say the best way is to take your bun to the vet for his pedicure. Good luck!

[MimzMum]

Well, if you don’t have a vet, or can’t afford one, to do it for you, do you have anyone who could assist you in holding your bun while you do the clipping? I have two buns with dark nails and I have to get my daughter to hold them while I clip, with coke-bottle eyeglasses and a flashlight so I make sure I don’t hit the quick.
I’ve had my lop, Mimzy, for over a year and he STILL doesn’t put up with being held. But when we get him firmly (but gently) restrained, it takes about fifteen or twenty minutes to get all four paws done.
Of course, you want to be sure you have styptic powder and q-tips on hand, just in case you do snip a little too close. And a good pair of nail clippers. I think there is an example of how to set up for this lovely chore in the Bunny Info (Monthly Maintenance) section at the top of the webpage.

Also, is there a possibility you have a rabbit rescue in your area? I’ve heard some members say they get their bunnies done for free at theirs. Perhaps the folks at one of these places could assist you in learning how to keep bunny still while you clip his nails?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

You have a couple of options,

One is to get your vet to do it for you. If your uncomfortable doing it, or he’s really hard to hold that’s a good option.

You can also try trancing. Flip your bun upside down and rub his nose and try to get him to trance out. Most will, some never will trance and some take time. Do it in a quiety room when he’s calm. If he trances you can do the nails then easily.

The other method is the bunny burrito, where you bundle bunny up in a towel (not a nice one!! ) and pull one leg out at a time to clip the nails on. This prevents bunny from biting/scratching and hurting himself or you.

[somebunny]

i had the same problem with my bun, couldn’t hold her or get her into a bunny burrito.

the best way i found to cut her nails was without holding her, while she is lying flat relaxed, getting lots of pats – then i quietly clip her nails.

she didn’t mind it at all, in fact she seemed to get into an even more relaxed pose! she did flinch a bit when i was doing her big toe, so you have to be careful and take your time…it is time consuming but a lot less stressful.

also, my bun has black nails as well, i have a headlamp (yes!) and don’t cut them too short, better safe than sorry.

[DallasDelight]

Thanks for the help! mimz; I live out in basically the middle of nowhere on a farm, and the nearest rescues I have seen are about 4 hours away lol so I can’t take him to a rescue, even though that would be really nice. I think I’ll try the trancing, and if that doesn’t work I’ll try the bunny burrito, and if that doesn’t work either – to the vet it is!
by the way, that trancing thing is really cool, I’ve never heard of it before.
Thanks again everyone!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Wasn’t sure if you’d heard of trancing and I’d be repeating stuff you knew!!

Basically they go into a ‘play dead’ state when caught by predators, in order that the predator drops them to eat them, and they take that oppurtunity to run off! You can invoke the play dead by putting them on their backs. The best way to do it is sitting on the ground and very slowly tip them over, stroke their nose and face (to encourage the eyes to close) and talk softly. It takes some practice but you can basically do anything once tranced! Clip nails, clean anal glands, check everythings good down there…Very very useful

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Pics/vid of tranced bunnies

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mybunnies.com/images/me_tulip_tranced.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mybunnies.com/trance.htm&h=659&w=494&sz=60&hl=en&start=5&um=1&usg=__z6es8nm06gq2_fJH1BDS_mrwq5k=&tbnid=NgbYXXxT8SViLM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=103&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtranced%2Bbunny%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8RCznpya4A

 

 

[DallasDelight]

LOL that is the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen, how cool!! Geesh I hope Dallas goes to sleep like Sweet Pea did in that video. I’m off to go try the bunny trance now, see if I can get those nails clipped thanks for all the info about the bunny trancing, that helps a LOT

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

No problem Keep us posted

[DallasDelight]

lol it was…interesting. He DID trance out for about 3 seconds the 2nd time I tried. Then he squeaked, rolled over and nudged my hand hard like “what do you think you’re doing??”. I tried just holding his paw and clipping but that didn’t work either. Basically, I’m just going to have the vet clip them when I take him to get neutered at the end of this month/early next month . Silly stubborn boy!

[Author]

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