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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Bloody Nails!

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    • Mjacqu6
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         I adopted two abused rabbits. I’ve gotten used to their human-phobia and have tried to give them the best life possible. I have recently noticed they were 

        getting stuck in the carpet becuase of their long nails. I clipped my first boy without incident but my more nervous guy was struggling and squealing the whole 
        time. I eventually calmed him down and started clipping his nails. As I was getting one nail he squrmed and I noticed that he started bleeding. I immdiatly let him go. I tried to see how bad it was but he kept running from me when I got close. Hes acting pretty normal but I’m so upset that I made him bleed. Should I take him to the vet? I can still see his red stained paw. 
         
        I  never meant to hurt him.
         
        I dont have the money to take him to the vet if hes ok, but I wouldnt hesitate to take him if there is any chance hes in trouble.
         
        Thanks,
         
        Matt
         
        P.S. In the future… Is it worth it to clip the nails of a rabbit who really cant handle being picked up? I waited ’till he was getting stuck  in thge carpet because I know he cant handle being picked up. I’ve never heard a rabbit make those noises before. He was terrified. And I made him bleed. I feel so bad
         


      • Mjacqu6
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          His friend is licking his paw now…they are both sprawled out now so I think hes fine. I just wanna know if I should clip him in the future or let him be. Ive been trying to get him to be more comfortable around humans and now I’ve set that back a while. Are the nails something I should leave for the vet? I feel soooo bad I hurt the little rabbit who was growing to trust me  Hes the black and white one in my avatar… He is very nervous around people but he has started to trust me lately. 


        • LBJ10
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            Sounds like you just got the quick. As long as the bleeding stops, he should be find. I know I get Leopold’s quick once because he squirmed right as I was cutting. Has the vet cut their nails for you before? Maybe they can show you a better technique. Since they are so skittish, it might be hard to do it the same way a lot of us normally cut our buns’ nails.


          • Mjacqu6
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              The vet cut their nails when they neutered them, but they have been growing since. Ive tried to cut a few times since, but they really dont like being picked up so I chickened out. I love my little guys and I dont want them to hate me. When I adopted them I was advised they came from an abusive home and that’s fine with me, I’m just happy to help. I sit with them while I do my schoolwork and they climb on me and lay against me. They seem to get more comfortable every day and I’m very worried that I have set us back a few months. I’m just so worried that I hurt my boy.

              What should I do about their nails in the future? Neither of them like being picked up and the clipping makes them very scared. I dont want to scare my little boys.


            • Mjacqu6
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                The vet cut their nails when they neutered them, but they have been growing since. Ive tried to cut a few times since, but they really dont like being picked up so I chickened out. I love my little guys and I dont want them to hate me. When I adopted them I was advised they came from an abusive home and that’s fine with me, I’m just happy to help. I sit with them while I do my schoolwork and they climb on me and lay against me. They seem to get more comfortable every day and I’m very worried that I have set us back a few months. I’m just so worried that I hurt my boy.

                What should I do about their nails in the future? Neither of them like being picked up and the clipping makes them very scared. I dont want to scare my little boys.


              • Mjacqu6
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                  The vet cut their nails when they neutered them, but they have been growing since. Ive tried to cut a few times since, but they really dont like being picked up so I chickened out. I love my little guys and I dont want them to hate me. When I adopted them I was advised they came from an abusive home and that’s fine with me, I’m just happy to help. I sit with them while I do my schoolwork and they climb on me and lay against me. They seem to get more comfortable every day and I’m very worried that I have set us back a few months. I’m just so worried that I hurt my boy.

                  What should I do about their nails in the future? Neither of them like being picked up and the clipping makes them very scared. I dont want to scare my little boys.


                • Mjacqu6
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                  • Mjacqu6
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                      Sorry, I have no idea why that posted 3 times. I dont mean to spam!


                    • Mjacqu6
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                        Did I hurt him though? I don’t want him to think I will hurt him whenever I come near him . He’s been running away from me all night   It seems he has stopped bleeding though. 


                      • Mjacqu6
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                          I know that rabbit are pretty smart. I’ve seen that. How long will they remember that I grabbed them and forcibly cut their nails? I’m trying them to get them to like me….


                        • LBJ10
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                            Tried to reply but there was an error. What I was trying to say it you could try luring them into a carrier with treats and take them to a foreign surface. Then while sitting on said surface, you could slip their paws out one by one and clip.
                            It probably felt it when you cut his nail too short. No long term physical harm though. Most rabbits get over the “trauma” fairly quickly, but it depends.


                          • Mjacqu6
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                               My guys are tough… They will come sit with me but if I make any sort of move towards them they run. I try to leave them alone as much as possbile but when they are getting stuck in the carpet I feel like its time to clip them. I didn’t adopt these two to play, I adopted them to provide a home.  Im just feeling bad becaue the one time I pick my boy up, I injure him. He was squealing the whole time and I feel like I set his “human relations” back a lot. He seems fine now, I just wanna know your thoughts on  nail clippings in this situation. What should I do next time they are getting stuck in the carpet?


                            • Monkeybun
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                                Well, if its too much for you to cut them yourselves, and i understand that, they get so scared, maybe your vet can do them every now and then. They DO need to be cut, you can’t let them get too long.


                              • Mjacqu6
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                                   Ive only had them since october. They are so sweet and bring so much joy to my house, but I really dont want to  scare them, even thouh I know that they need to be clipped. I just get so scared when I hear them squeal. I’ve never heard a sound like that  Does a vet charge a lot to cut nails? I would much rather someone be the “bad guy.” They are terrified of all people, If I dont have to cut their nails maybe I can make some more progress with them. 


                                • Monkeybun
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                                    It depends on the vet. I would call and ask


                                  • LBJ10
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                                      You certainly don’t want them to live with overgrown nails all the time. They run the risk of getting them caught and completely pulling one off. In your situation, I would leave them alone for a little while and then resume your routine with them. They may be wary or they may surprise you and come around relatively quickly. Do they like treats? You could offer them a peace offering. As for going about clipping their nails in the future, take a look at my suggestion above. It works for some people on here with difficult buns when it comes to nails.


                                    • Mjacqu6
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                                         Ill give her a call tommorrow, Any advice for someone in my situation? Anyone?  I have two very nervous rescue rabbits. I love them either way, but I would like it if they felt comortable around me. At least they have eachother I guess. 


                                      • Mjacqu6
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                                          I tried the carrier approach and they just cower in the back. Trust me, I’ve tried everything before just restraining them. I felt so bad holding them against their will while they screamed. It broke my heart, but they desperately needed to be cut. They wont eat treats while I’m around anymore because they think they will be picked up. I don’t know what to do. I know its for their own good, but I feel so bad A rabbit squealing in terror has to be the worst sound in the world


                                        • MoveDiagonally
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                                            I would email or call rabbit rescues or maybe your local HRS chapter (or the HRS in general) and ask for advice on how to work with abused rabbits. They might be able to give you some advice or techniques for acclimating them to human handling, presence, etc…

                                            I do agree that their nails should be clipped before they get that long. It’s dangerous for them (they could tear one off) and it can cause other issues (sore hocks).

                                            I’m sorry you and your buns had to go through that. I’ve never heard the rabbit “scream” or squeal and I can’t imagine how heart breaking it would be!


                                          • Mjacqu6
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                                              I will call them again.. I talked to them a few months ago and they told me to give them their space and ;let them get comfortable with their environment before interacting with them. I give them all the space they want. I sit in their area when I have time and they come see me, but whenever I move around them they scatter. I know they have had issues with people and I will never force myself upon them, but sometimes I need to (nail clippings, etc..) and Iwant to traumatize them as little as possible… anyone have some nail cutting techniques for nervous rabbits? They were getting stuck in the carpet so I had to grab them, restrain them and try my best to clip their nails. I have grown up around small animals but I have never seen an animal as resistant to nail clipping as my little boy. He squealed the whole time. I was holding him securely the whole time but every time my girlfriend touched one of his paws to clip him, he started thrashing as hard as he could. He gave me a few deep cuts but we cut most of his nails. When I cut the one that made him bleed we stopped but he still has one or two long ones. I just worry becuase my rabbits jump over eachother alot to get in/out of their cage and im afraid they will injure eachother. I got all my big guy’s nails but my little boy still has some sharp ones and he wont let me anywhere near him to get the others. He runs into his box everytime I come in the room and I dont want to grab him from the box because I want that to be a safe place for him . I haven’t seen him all day because he wont come out when I’m around. I looked through then slit in the top though and he seems comfortable. I don’t want to betray his trust but he still has a few nails to clip. Any suggeastions?


                                            • Mjacqu6
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                                                Am I bad caretaker for making my bun bleed? I am so so ashamed… I never imagined I would hurt one of my little boys…


                                              • Monkeybun
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                                                  Not at all! It happens to everyone, really. Don’t worry yourself, he’ll be just fine


                                                • Bam
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                                                    ‘ve cut into the quick of one of my bunnies nails, it bled. It’s good that it bleeds because bacteria gets flushed out, but of course you need to make sure it stops bleeding. I felt awful, but it’s sth that happens to all pet-owners sometime.

                                                    My bunny Yohio cried out when I caught him in the allotment-graden where I found him. It’s a terrible terrible noise.

                                                    Don’t feel too bad, animals can’t always understand that you’re trying to help them but you still have to help them.

                                                    I have no tips other than to get sb else to help you with the nail-clipping. It helps to be two people.

                                                    You seem to be a very good person. Just wanted to say. Lucky bunnies to have been rescued by you.


                                                  • jerseygirl
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                                                      Don’t be too hard on yourself! I know it makes you feel awful but you were seeing to their needs. It happens.

                                                      It’s easier to nip the quick and the nail can bleed a lot even though its only the end if the quick. One time I was clipping my rabbits dewclaw, he pulled his foot away just as it clipped. It ended up taking of his whole claw leaving just a nub. I felt so awful! It was tender for him but eventually it healed and grew back.

                                                      As MoveDiagonally has said, trimming their nails really is necessary. Otherwise they are prone to injuries (tearing the nail, scratching eyes or ears, hock sores).

                                                      Some Rescues offer nail clipping service and the few goes toward the rescue work. Some might even do home visits. You could also look into groomers that also work with rabbits.
                                                      That’s some other options besides the vet. I understand your reluctance to do the trims yourself, especially if you think it will set back your relationship with them.

                                                      For what it’s worth, my rabbits don’t want to know me after I’ve done trims but they come around. Food treats help and just making them feel safe again.

                                                      It’s just part and parcel of being a caretaker – there are times when you feel guilty and awful about what has to be done on occasion.


                                                    • jerseygirl
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                                                        If the bunnies like digging at things you might be able to try a sand paper scratch board for them to a scrabble at. I’m not sure how sucessful it would be but it might keep the front nails trimmed down somewhat.

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                                                    Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Bloody Nails!