Please help, Alistair hurt his toe, I don’t know what to do.

[Deleted User]

I’m so upset right now.  I noticed a few tiny blood spots in the litter pan when I went to feed the buns tonight, and so I checked them over and saw that one of Alistair’s toe nails is broken at the base of his toe.  His nails were due to be cut so I guess maybe he caught it on something?

I’ve clipped all his nails now including that one, but I don’t know what to do about it, I don’t know if I should cut it off right at the base of his toe?  It is still attached (he didn’t break it right off).  I’ve included a picture of what it looks like now (sorry it’s not the best pic).

The vet office isn’t open until Monday, so I don’t know what I should do about it.  He is running around and happy and seems totally fine, but I’m sure not.  Is it ok to leave it?  Will he be ok? 

[MooBunnay]

Have you checked and are able to see that it is just the nail and not the toe that is injured? And what is the nail hanging on by? If it is still attached to the quick I do not think you’d want to clip it because that will cause bleeding, but you definitely want to trim the portions you are able too because you don’t want him to get it hung up on something and break it further. If you are not comfortable clipping any further than you are able too right now, then I think I would wait for the vet to do anything further. It might be a good idea to have Alistair stay in his cage until you can get him to the vet though, just so you can take out anything that he might catch his toenail on.

Grace ripped her toenail once as well, but it wasn’t attached by anything but a little bit of nail, so I did end up clipping it down to the base of her toe, but I didn’t have to clip through the quick to do so, so unless you can clip the toenail without hitting any skin or the quick, I think you will need to leave it on for now.

Don’t stress yourself out too much Bunnies do quite often break or rip a toenail, usually that is just a sign that you might want to check their toenails a little more often for trims.

I hope Alistair’s nail is better soon!

[Deleted User]

My husband will be home within the hour, so I’ll get him to check it and see if the quick is attached or not. (I’m way too stressed to do it at the moment :'( )

Right now Alistair is licking the toe a bit and pulling on the nail with his teeth. Is it ok to let him do this? Or do I need to make him stop? I’m sorry I must sound so dumb, I just have no idea.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Looks like a broken nail…I’d ‘pack’ it with neo/polysporin and leave it be…clip it when it looks more solid, so it doesnt’ snag. No biggie though don’t freak out

[Lintini]

Yup, when I first got Bun, the same thing happened to her, and the vet told me to leave it and put some neopsporin on it. It was fine!

[RabbitPam]

Definitely the neosporin so it doesn’t get infected. I think it’s OK for him to chew at it because he can tell where the quick is and probably won’t hurt himself, but will trim it down with his teeth. It’s Sunday, so let the vet see it tomorrow and meanwhile he’ll be fine in his cage for a day.

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone for all your advice. I don’t know why I get so nervous about these things. If it were a child or a baby I’d be able to handle it just fine, but for some reason when it’s one of my critters I always panic.

His nail seems to be doing a bit better today I think. It’s back in it’s “normal” position, so I’m not sure what that means. I will pick up some neosporin today (there’s a certain kind I’m supposed to buy, or not supposed to buy right?).

Should I still take him in to the vet tomorrow to check it, or should I just keep an eye on it.

Thanks again, I don’t know what I’d do without this site.

[katie, max & penny]

for the neosporin, get the regular normal kind- not the pain relieving kind.

good luck!!!

[bunnytowne]

awe poor bunny.    He must feel fine if he is running about.  You are doing fine don’t panic.  I know it is hard for we think they are soooo fragile.  He will be ok 

Something like this  had happened to Laith and I felt so bad cuz he was my first house bunny  I hadn’t had a bunny since I was 13. 

I didnt’ know it happened  or that it happened til too late.   I was taking him out of his cage He started kicking.   Days later I noticed a nail was all turned funny.  May have hurt his toe and it always stayed that way  since.  Or broke his toe.  He never screamed so I never knew.

I am guessing he got hung up in the cage door and I didn’t realize it  and perhaps I had hurt him at that time.   I felt so bad cuz by the time I noticed it a week or a few weeks  later  I could have cried.  IT stayed funny all his short little bunny life.  HE seemed fine though he still ran and stuff.   Til he got sick.  I just felt so bad. I dont know for sure if he got it hung up in the cage when I was getting him out  but I think that is what happened to it.   It was hard to get him out that one time I remember.

I am not saying this is going to happen to your bunny but all these toenail posts reminded me of that. I sitll feel bad about that.  Gosh I miss Laith. 

[MooBunnay]

Its OK – I get really panicked as well, especially when I don’t know what to do! But it sounds like Alistair is still doing well, hopefully his nail will be better soon Did you end up making a vet appointment?

[Deleted User]

Alistair has an appointment for Thursday morning. It’s the earliest they could get him in He seems to be doing fine though. Bunny is going to go in for a harecut at the same time. Thanks for your advice everyone, I will post what happens after his appointment.

bunnytowne – I’m really sorry that happened to Laith. It’s hard when memories come back that remind us of bad things that happened to our lost pets. I lost two piggies last year that we had for 6-7 years and it is very difficult for me when something reminds me of them being sick. Go give Cotton and Ruby a hug

[bunnytowne]

Thanks  that is kind of you.    IT is hard when we lose a pet.   Sorry about your piggies  I petted one at the pet store today.   There is a huge one there .  I never petted one b4

[Deleted User]

I forgot to post an update on this but, we took Alistair into the vet and she removed the toenail. He is fine now and the nail will grow back just fine.

Thanks for the advice everyone

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Thanks for updating!! I’m so glad it’s all good now

[BinkyBunny]

 That’s great!  Good news!  Thanks for the update. 

[RabbitPam]

Thanks for letting us know. That’s a treatment none of us could ever do ourselves, so it shows why it’s so important to take our bunnies to the vet.
You did the right thing for him.

[Author]

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