How to trim the nails of a unruly rabbit?

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This topic has 11sd replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 11 months ago by Baxter n Boos Mom.

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- 05/16/2013 at 3:54 AM
  wafflebunny
  Participant
  4 posts
  I have 3 house roaming rabbits and they do not sit still for two seconds. I have not trimmed their nails once because they will not let me. They run away or kick every time we even touch their feet. How do we trim their nails in a way that wont hurt them?
- 05/16/2013 at 4:01 AM
  MoveDiagonally
  Participant
  2361 posts
  Do you have someone to help you? I trim my rabbits nails with my husband. One of us holds and the other trims.
  
  Other options would be a bunny burrito:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3okPKg9Fc8
  
  You could also see how much your vet charges for a nail trim and take them in to get it done. I know there are some people here that do it that way.
- 05/16/2013 at 4:01 AM
  MoveDiagonally
  Participant
  2361 posts
  Also, Welcome to BB!
- 05/16/2013 at 4:04 AM
  wafflebunny
  Participant
  4 posts
  Yeah I do. How do you two hold your rabbit so that he doesnt kick his feet? And thanks (:
- 05/16/2013 at 4:16 AM
  MoveDiagonally
  Participant
  2361 posts
  I have to use different methods with different buns (and depending on their attitude that day)
  
  1. One of us presses down firmly but gently on their shoulder area, the bun is on our lap or the coffee table. The other person will pick up each foot and clip the nails.
  
  2. One of us cradles the bun securely and the other clips.
  
  3. On a really bad day one of us holds a burrito-fied bun and the other clips.
  
  If you scroll down a bit on this webpage:
  https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/21/PID/940/Default.aspx
  
  It shows some more methods and better descriptions of the methods I mentioned.
- 05/16/2013 at 4:20 AM
  wafflebunny
  Participant
  4 posts
  Thanks! I will try these out!!
- 05/16/2013 at 7:29 AM
  bullrider76543
  Participant
  1288 posts
  I have only one unruley rabbit that is instant on us not clipping his nails. Nibbles for some reason is terrified although he has never had a bad experience with it. I bunny burrito him, all the others just lay on my lap and let me do them.
- 05/16/2013 at 10:14 AM
  hannaroo
  Participant
  317 posts
  I took Buttons and Suri to the vets to have theirs done today! It only cost me £10 so it’s worth it for me as they dont seem to mind short car journeys and it really helps to have someone clip their nails while I (try) and hold them still! Mine are still only babies so the thought of being picked up sends them crazy, making maintenance a little bit of a headache. I spent half the morning trying to get a little bit of poop from Suri’s leg ¬¬
- 05/20/2013 at 9:43 PM
  BbsBunny
  Participant
  49 posts
  When i cut my buns nails, i will hold him on his back on my legs. My boyfriend will rub his forehead and this puts him to sleep so i can clip his nails. I would try that, but be careful when they kick while they are on their back it could hurt their back! Good luck!
- 05/21/2013 at 12:12 PM
  HopsHopscotch
  Participant
  28 posts
  I take Hopscotch to the vet to get his nails trimmed. It costs 10 dollars and I think it is worth it. I go back with him so I see how they handle him, and they are very gentle. For me, I think it is worth it.
- 05/21/2013 at 3:26 PM
  kcomstoc
  Participant
  625 posts
  My BF holds him on his back (firmly but carefully so he can’t move to hurt his back) i trimt he nails (to get the fur out of the way we use woman’s stockings and put one nail through at a time and clip and then next nail we put a nail through the stocking *we just push the nail through*) we also use a light that shines through the nail so we know how close is too close to the quick. I have never hit the quick after we are done we put him back and he angrily hops around which we call “humphing” because he’s obviously angry lol
- 05/21/2013 at 5:12 PM
  Baxter n Boos Mom
  Participant
  394 posts
  Our 2 boys are free range buns as well, and they both HATE being picked up. We’ve noticed that if we can enclose the buns in a small space using their X-pens, they don’t resist us as much – I think they realize it’s a lost cause if they can’t run away, We had to use the bunny burrito method in order to clip their nails. But we decided it upsets them so much, that it may be easier to have the vet do it. We’d rather our buns be upset with them, than us 🙂
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