Help!! I can’t groom Monty :(

[Goldie Locks]

 Okay, so I’ve had my bunny Monty for a few months now… My first bunny, actually. And I’m completely in love!  

But I’m pretty sure he really needs grooming, because honestly he smells like onions extremely bad… I think it might be his butt!

Anyways, I can’t get him over on his back or even onto his side without him squirming and freaking out. We’re very close, he loves to cuddle and it’s not like we don’t get enough contact or play time, I think he just does not like that powerlessness. He actually gets angry and bites me after too, which is so not like him… 

I’ve read a lot of articles about it, like trying to wrap him up in a blanket, covering his eyes and stuff… Just does not work!

Does anyone have any idea on how I could get his bum clean and claws cut without having to turn him completely over like that? 

Thanks! 

[kinggoblin]

I don’t think that is normal, I’ve had my bunny for months and he doesn’t smell like anything but hay sometimes, maybe have a vet check him? The only person that can handle my bunny is my exotics vet and even she has to burrito him.

To clip my buns nails I have to put a pile of pellets on the floor and lay on the floor and try to clip as many nails as possible before he gets irritated and hops away, so sometimes nail clips take days.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

It sounds like his anal glands are gunked up.

I’d take him to the vet for the easy way. The hard way would be to go one youtube and search “how to pick up bunny” and watch a few. There are like, 5 different ways, and they all work to some degree

I’ll admit, when I need to pick samson up, I throw a towel over her and scoop her in the middle, then fold her in and make sure her nose is clear but eyes are covered. She stresses out if I pick her up anyway, and this is the safest way from both of us. Then I sit somewhere sturdy, like a couch, with my knees together and and kinda up towards my chest, I lay Samson with her back on my legs then lower my legs til they are like, just above 90 degrees (so her head is still up a little). She wont trance, but she feels more secure so she doesn’t kick or freak out much.

For Lady, i put a pile of greens in front of her and pull her paws out and clip them while she eats. But shes super mellow like that, Samson would have my hand if I tried to grab her paws.

[KytKattin]

For the nails, there are two ways that I normally do it. First, when I am by myself and just want it done quick, I just hold the rabbit close to my body with my non dominate hand (right), and have the clippers in my dominate hand (left). I can get to pretty much all of the nails this way. If it was a rabbit that was less tame (there are less tame rabbits than mine?!?), I would hold the rabbit with both hands and have someone else clip the nails. I normally have someone else clip (or hold) when I get the dew-claws, but those only need to be trimmed every other time on my bunnies.

Your tool for clipping will really help here. I use these little clippers that look sort of like scissors that are made for cat claws.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Try to hold him and have someone else crouch under so that they could do the cleaning…are you able to hold him kind of like a football, right side up? That would be perfect postiion for someone who loves you very much/owes you a favor to kind of reach in and clean his bum.
Sounds like it might be anal glands-they can stink. Though they should be checked/cleaned regularly, your vet should show you how to do it the first time. And they are used to scent I believe, so even if not full, bunny could be making little stinkies as he’s adventuring if he’s not neutered yet-regardless of how clean they are.

[Goldie Locks]

Thanks for all your replies guys!
I haven’t managed to get him groomed yet, he gets angry and pulls his paws away when I try to touch his feet.. But I’ll keep building his trust and try to distract him while I get at his little claws. I can barely even hold him like a foot ball without him squirming.
He also loves to try and jump out of my arms when I go to put him back in his cage… I know he wants to go back in there because he stares at it from the couch once he gets bored of cuddle time, but as soon as we get close to the mouth of the cage he freaks right out! I’m going to try the blanket thing next time, that seems like a better idea and keep him from jumping out of my arms.
But the good news is, he doesn’t stink anymore! I’m not sure what it was about, maybe something with his diet but I got him a bunch of timothy hay because I only had alfalfa for him and it seems to have gone away. I’m not sure if that was the solution or not but he seems fine now, stink free.
Actually he smells pretty good now!
I’m still going to take him to the vet as soon as I move into my new place and can afford it which will be in a few weeks.
For some reason it seemed like the smell was almost related to stress, is that possible? Because that happened right after we took a car ride to my sisters place. I came here to find an apartment and of course I couldn’t leave him at home….
He also is not fixed yet, because I just got him as a youngin from a breeder in October… Could that also be the cause?
I’m just glad he doesn’t reek anymore, haha… Now to just get those claws done.

(Edit, I just read the last comment over again, and noticed the scent thing… I think thats what the problem was because of him not being fixed)

[LoveChaCha]

I wouldn’t pick him up at all costs – unless you need to groom him or clip his nails. Rabbits do not like to be handled – they are prey animals. To them, we humans are monsters and think we are going to eat them.

I would suggest trying to get him in by holding a treat that he enjoys

Rabbits really don’t smell. The only time I smell stink is when I dump the litter box contents into the plastic bag. Bunnies are very very clean creatures

Car rides won’t make them stink, but i would be really really concerned about that smell. Boy rabbits that are not fixed tend to want to mark and they can smell, but after they are neutered, it should stop.

Have you searched around for a rabbit savvy vet for a check up? If you got him from a breeder, that is also important that he is checked up, and given a clean bill of health

http://www.rabbit.org has a list of rabbit savvy vets in the states.

[kamdynandsunshinesmom]

I have had sunshine for almost 2 years and she doesn’t smell and hasn’t ever smelled. My bunny kamdyn only smells when he needs his anal glands cleaned because he can’t clean them himself. I would suggest going to a vet who can help you out. I would let them clip his toenails for awhile so he can get use to it and also you can have the vet show you how to clip them. I clip my own rabbits toe nails now it saves me $24 every 3 months.

[RabbitPam]

I would suggest taking him to the vet for an appointment for a nail trim and anal gland cleaning. Usually a vet will only do that and charge less, rather than a total medical exam (unless he needs one, in which case do it all at once.) But you can also ask your vet to show you how to do it yourself. If you arrange the time of the appointment to include that, she or her assistant will be able to show you some basics. You do not need to flip a bunny, but rather need to know the different ways to hold the bunny so it knows you’re in charge and doesn’t struggle. Between your knees on the floor with one hand firmly on his shoulders is one way, inside a burrito or not. Another way I’ve seen my vet use is to lean his back up against your front kind of standing, so you can reach his underside. But have the vet demonstrate and let you try it.

And struggling is not a reflection on his trust of you. Sammy gives me kisses later, but is a big fussy growling baby every time I do a nail trim. After 3 years. 

[Elrohwen]

Is he neutered? I didn’t see anyone else ask and that is often a cause for very smell rabbits. None of the vets I’ve been to, all great exotic vets, believe in cleaning the glands – they claim it’s difficult and unnecessary. There could be a rabbit who really needs it, but in general a rabbit won’t smell if there is a little bit of gunk in there.

I’d take him to the vet and have them show you how to do his nails. I took mine to the vet for years and only started doing it myself after I was more comfortable.

[Goldie Locks]

No hes not neutered yet actually, and I just called the vet and she said that was the problem.

She also said she’s never come across a case where a rabbit even needs their anal glands clean and that it’s probably his male scent..

So I’ve scheduled an appointment to get his nails done and a health check tomorrow, and see if hes ready to get neutered soon…

He’s going to be so mad at me after this, lol!!! 

[Stickerbunny]

The vet can show you how to hold him for nails. Be sure to ask when you take him.

[Yuki Kathleen]

Try using pampers baby wipes and carefully wiping his bottom while feeding him his favorite snack! Or you can use a damp towel with some pet-safe shampoo

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