Question #2 (about nail clipping eek!)

[Jessieyo]

Winnie’s nails are really overgrown, and neither one of us is happy about it.  She won’t sit still long enough for me to clip them (and I think that I am scared and uncomfortable doing it doesn’t help either).  Today, I tried the towel method ONCE, and now she runs away when she sees a towel.  I tried to trance her, but I don’t think I’m doing it right, and she is obviously really uncomfortable laying in a position that I put her in (and constrain her to), and at the first opportunity, she jumpped out of my lap.  Now, she is hiding under my bed.  So, I decided I would let a professional do it and started calling around, and no one trims rabbit nails!  I’m very frustrated.

How do I find a rabbit groomer?  I’ll take advice on doing it myself too (which is actually what I REALLY want to do), but I feel like I have read a lot (and watched videos) and none of it is helping me actually do it.

[Sarita]

I would call your vet because they probably would do her nails. You most likely will not find a rabbit groomer so a vet is your best bet.

[Jessieyo]

I just talked to them after I posted this. They would, but they charge almost $25. :/ That’s a lot of money for a nail trim, so now I am really determined to do it myself (again). I think I might enlist some help from other people tonight. Maybe if I can hold her while someone else clips…

I would still appreciate and tips or advice

[Jessieyo]

Ok. So I just talked to a vet who will do it for $16. That’s better for me… Its also the vet that was recommended to me, and I was thinking about switching to. I’ve been meaning to stop by there… so, its perfect. If I can’t get her trimmed myself tonight, I’m taking her there tomorrow.

[Sarita]

When you take her into the vet, ask them to show you how to do it. Maybe you can do one paw while you are there to help you build some confidence up. You are going to have to be confident to do this :~)

[Adalaide]

I was super scared of doing Freya’s nails so I had the vet show me when we went in for her checkup. Since she refuses to be a burrito the vet showed me a different way to hold her to do it. I hold her with one hand under her arms across her belly and the other under her butt and curl her so her back legs point forward but her head is still up. She can’t kick or fight at all and simply glares at me. The downside is that I can’t seem to master doing everything myself like the vet can so I make my husband help me and we do it with two people.

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

it works best for us if we use both of us to do it! One holds and comforts bunny while the other clips the nails. I still hate doing it but it’s gotta be done! I can’t afford to have the vet do it all the time!

[katie, max & penny]

my vet charges 13 its a good price, to me, for less stress!!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

It’s really not that difficult-BUT when they NEED to be done-it’s best to buck up and pay for the vet to do it. Then work on doing it on your own

We can help with tips (on how to hold and how not to trim too short) but it’s a really good idea to get the vet to do it now

[KatnipCrzy]

Not every bunny is easily tranced or willing to “stay tranced” once you start clipping nails- so I would not count on that as a method for restraint if it does not suit your bunny.

Are you trying to trim the nails yourself or do you have someone to help you?  My husband usually holds the bunny on his lap and keep the feet that I am not trimming under control.

[Monkeybun]

My vet charges about the same Katie, so I havent had to fight with Monkey yet

[Elrohwen]

I would definitely take her to the vet. I’m working with Otto to get him comfortable with me doing it, but it’s nice to have the vet do it for now so I don’t have to stress him out so much (the vet can be the bad guy!). I have a great regular vet, but they’re expensive and kind of far away, so I just take him to a local vet. They have some experience with rabbits – not enough that I would really trust them to do surgery, but enough that they can cut nails. So don’t worry about going to a vet that’s not your regular vet. They charge $15.

By the way, Otto is extremely difficult for even two confident vet techs to clip, so I don’t feel so bad that I can’t do it 😉 Some bunnies are just very squirmy!

[Beka27]

At most vets, you pay for a vet tech visit AND for the nail trim. At my vet, each trim costs 6 dollars, and the vet tech visit is an additional $12. With my two buns, they only charge for one visit, but each nail trim is separate, so it comes out to $24 for two bunnies. When you have your bun there for another purpose like a check-up, definitely ask them to trim them. At that point, you should only be paying for the actual service, since you are already paying for your visit.

For a long time, I was taking the buns to the vet for trims every month but when my husband was laid off, I could no longer justify the expense, so I had to “buck up” and trim them myself. I’ve been doing well at it. I hold them upright against my side with one arm under their chest and trim all the nails I can with my right hand. For the couple I can’t see/reach with my right, I transfer the bun to my other arm and I trim them (CAREFULLY!!!) with my left, non-dominant, hand. I tried trancing and towels and they don’t work for my buns. I was spending more time trying to bundle the bunny than actually trimming.

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