Tips for picking up

[Deleted User]

Hi everyone! 

Bombur and I have gotten extremely close. If you follow my boys on instagram you probably see me lying down with Bombur a lot. He loves it when his head is resting on my arm and I cradle his bum and pet his cheeks and ears. He gets a euphoric look to him. The vet picks him up and he absolutely loves it. Does anyone have any tips or suggestion on how to best pick him up and snuggle with him? 

I’ve tried to before, but I get so panicked I’m going to break his spine, and I know he can sense my panic, so he panics.I feel like I don’t want to hold to firmly because he’ll hurt himself, but I know if I don’t hold firmly enough he’ll get injured. 

Any suggestions are welcomed  

[Wick & Fable]

I can’t imagine a vet who would be opposed to seeing you pick up your lovely pet during an appointment. It shows you’re being conscientious and careful. One thing to do is the next time Bombur has an appointment, ask the vet and try in front of the vet a good way to hold Bombur. The vet can help you find what works best for Bombur’s body shape/size.

Bombur is bigger than Wick is, but I think you could manage holding him like I do Wick. My main pick-up-hold technique is:

1) Pick up:
• Use non-dominant arm’s hand, reach around rabbit’s body to get belly to rest in hand
• (For more support) While lifting rabbit with non-dominant hand via belly, cross dominant arm past and under non-dominant hand, and get your dominant hand under your rabbit’s legs/bottom, so they feel grounded.
• Stand up

2) Hold:
• Remove non-dominant hand from rabbit’s belly, so rabbit is laying on your dominant arm’s forearm (head is at your elbow bend, bottom is on your dominant hand)
• (For more support) Take non-dominant arm and border the exposed side of your rabbit, so your chest is lining one side and your non-dominant arm is lining the other. Alternatively, you can use your non-dominant arm to wrap a cloth around him (you don’t need it to go between your dominant arm and your rabbit’s body if that movement is too difficult), or, if no one is around, literally take the bottom of your shirt and pull it up/tuck it between your rabbit and your chest so you have a make-shift bunny burrito, haha. Works like a charm if you have a larger shirt on.

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.

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