Nail Trimming Without Handling!

[summer]

I made a post about not knowing when and how to trim my bunnies’ nails. I went to the vet and got them trimmed and he tranced them to do it  But their nails grew back sharp quickly.

My bunnies already enjoyed full body petting so I started petting their legs and feet, too. Once they stopped jerking their feet away I gave their feet a little massage after a head to toe pet. 

When they go used to that, I brought out the clippers. They would jump up and inspect it, even biting it to see if it’s food. Once they realized it was nothing edible they stopped reacting to it.

Then came doing the press press clip method. They probably felt the metal on their nails and didn’t like it at first but it didn’t take long for them to get used to it. One hurdle – the clippers were dull!!!! So my first clip was more of a bent…. so I sharpened the clippers and started the process again and I finally did it!!! I clipped their nails!!! 

After that I gave them a treat… which maybe wasn’t a good idea because now whenever I come with clippers they jump up excitedly so I can’t clip their nails.

I’m just so happy that I was able to clip their nails in a peaceful way. I haven’t clipped their front nails yet because their fur is too long and I just can’t see them. But they’re getting used to me massaging their front paws, trying to move the fur out of the way to see their nails. I still get an occasional lick and nibble because they think I’m giving them a treat when my hands are so close to their face, though.

My bunnies are VERY small so their nails are tiny unlike in the youtube videos where the adult bunnies have big, thick, easily viewable nails! And I have two bunnies so sometimes when I’m trying to clip one’s nails the other one is LICKING MY BUM!  Or they run up to us and lick and nip at my fingers, expecting a treat. So I feel so accomplished because there were more obstacles in the way.

But it’s gotten to a point where whenever I see them lounging I start at their feet for a sharp nail to snip off and they give me a look and then tuck their feet it!!! Did they know what I was thinking????? 

[Pomandcourt]

They know!!! Mine do tuck their feet too haha

That’s such a great technique! When my little buns are more used to being handled (right now they barely tolerate a few pets), I’m definitely trying that. Right now, I give them a little treat to start so they’re concentrating on chewing away while I clip and then a little one after so it’s less scary. They still hate it though and it would be great to have them be calm throughout.

My other girl is too big for that, but she’s mostly mellow so it’s no TOO bad to clip her nails even though she doesn’t like it.

[summer]

i give them a treat after I’m done but I have been unable to clip their front paws because when they see my hands they think it’s treat time! So I’ve stopped hand feeding and when I stroke them i give their front paws a little massage. I need to wait until they stop licking my hands, searching for treats before I can cut their front nails.

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