Nail trimming nightmares

[Bladesmith]

ARRRRGH!     (Sorry, just had to get that out.)

Trying to trim nails has become a complete nightmare for me!  My eyesight has deteriorated (Screw you and your diabeetus, Wilford Brimley!) to the point where I simply cannot focus closely enough to see the quicks in the bunnies nails to clip them successfully.  And trying to hold down a 15 lb rabbit (Clover has lost some weight, and she looks FABulous, just ask her.) who doesn’t want to be held down is an exercise in futility.

To make it worse, Clover has one toe on her front foot that insists on growing freaking SIDEWAYS.

And I can’t keep calling on my ex wife to ask her for help.

Now, I have a good set of clippers, as well as a sort of pet nail rotary tool to work with, but I need suggestions.  Because this has got to get sorted.

Help?  A sheet of cyber brownies to all the helpers!

[Sirius&Luna]

Could the torch trick help you focus your eyes? Shine a light through the nail to get a better view of where the quick is 

[Wick & Fable]

It can be very difficult and stressful managing bunny control, clipping control, and clipping distance. Maybe you can do a two-pass approach. First go in with a good pencil, white pencil, whatever may show up on the nail, and focus on marking where you’ll clip. Then go in and clip after you have a mark, and you’re not worried about being too shallow or far up because you’re just aiming for a marking.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[bri_kayyyyy]

It may be out of the way, but some vets clip nails for a very good price! Our vet is actually 30 minutes away, but the rescue I volunteer for grooms animals and also clips rabbit nails! Call around or to your local vet and see if they clip nails, it might save you the hassle and frustration!

Answer my question? https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/168197/Default.aspx

[Gordo and Janice]

That marking of the nail is brilliant Wick! We always used the flashlight to verify and make sure. But truly no matter what, if it wasn’t the two of us I don’t know what I would have done.

Isn’t there one friend, neighbor, or good acquaintance close enough to just run over and help with the process. Two people, even if one is inexperienced, would seem to make it a much easier and less stressful endeavor. With a little coaching or instruction their assistance would have to be helpful, I would think.

*hand reaching for one of the all natural 100% perfectly healthy cyber brownies*

[EmeraldDove]

This is actually helpful for me too. My rabbit HATES being held, even if I wrap her in a blanket, so nail trimming is super tough, even with two people because she kicks and struggles so much. I would definitely look into the vet or special bunny shelters.

[Edited by Wick]

[Bladesmith]

@Wick: That’s Brilliant! Combined with the torch, should work.
@Gordo&Janice: Sadly, no. Aside from online, I don’t have any friends. Just the life worked out. Clover is better known around town than I am, lol.
@Bri: I broke down and called a vet yesterday and asked about pricing. Turns out it’s either $9 or $15 US depending on the difficulty. That’s far more reasonable than I thought it would be, and may very well be how I go from now on. I’m on a very fixed income, but I think I can prune a few things to make it work. Certainly be easier on all of us to leave it to the professionals.

Thanks everyone!

[Muj Mom N Bun]

I’m in just about the same boat, Bladesmith! My girl just won’t let me hold her still enough, long enough for me to clip her nails… AND, she has one nail growing sideways on a back foot due to her past home on a wire bottomed cage ?… BunBun let me clip her nails before but is giving me quite a schooling! I don’t drive so in order for me to take her to the vet… who is abt 20 mins drive away over into neighboring NJ, would be quite a favor to ask of another… add that to “My Diva Won’t Get Into A Carrier” and showed me that bunnies growl! ?, I have now found a neighbor only a short block away from mine who has bunnies and is not afraid to hold them, and enlisted some much desperately needed help. Hoping it works out…

[jerseygirl]

That vet pricing sound very reasonable. It’s worth checking local online ads also, as often vet nurses or techs will offer to do nail trim and other grooming services outside of the clinic. Dog groomer may do rabbit nails also, and do a home visit rather then have people bring rabbits into a salon that smells of wet dogs.

There are some fancy clipping tools on the market, ones with in-built lights and quick sensors. Ive not used any in person so I can’t vouch for any of those.

Lately, Ive been thinking to get myself a headband torch (miners light?) or those baseball hats with torch lights on the brim. Looking into lopped rabbit ears while holding torch and q-tips is complicated.

[Q8bunny]

Vet’s the way to go in our experience as well.

Chewie is a 5lb wriggly nightmare if we attempt to clip at home (yes, multiple people).

Our new vet here in Canada charges $15, which is close to what we were used to in Kuwait, so I much prefer the trip. Lure with treat into carrier. Scenic half-hour country drive. Two doting vet techs the wookie actually behaves for quickly complete the mani pedi. And back home for bunny yoga and breakfast.

[Gordo and Janice]

@Q8bunny – Lol….(Chewie is a 5lb wriggly nightmare if we attempt to clip at home (yes, multiple people).) Visions of chewie squirming out from under a dogpile of human bodies with arms and hands everywhere.

[Muj Mom N Bun]

I got desperate several weeks back with BunBun, I even tried the two options that others on the forum recommended to me in response to my…”Once upon a time, she let me cut her nails!” Post. I tried the bunny burrito and it was a nope! And, even more desperate at that point, I attempted to slightly trance her… not my favorite, I was really at my wits end that night and she wiggled and popped straight out of it… then came running to me to put her nose down for a pet… at least she didn’t hold a grudge. Lol,

[Gordo and Janice]

Posted By Gordo and Janice on 7/22/2018 4:16 PM


@Q8bunny – Lol….(Chewie is a 5lb wriggly nightmare if we attempt to clip at home (yes, multiple people).) Visions of chewie squirming out from under a dogpile of human bodies with arms and hands everywhere.

Edit:  Well after rereading what I wrote it doesn’t sound like a cute funny vision at all.  More like morbid.  What I meant was like multiple people frantically trying to hold the wriggly nightmare, giving it there all, with their arms and hands everywhere, somewhat tangled in the attempt, him successfully squirming free, escaping, standing behind them, looking at them, with the same look as his “Munched a thousand treats” face.  Instead I made him sound like the “Killer rabbit of Caerbannog”.

[Q8bunny]

No worries. We’re big Holy Grail fans around here

[Author]

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