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Forum DIET & CARE Nailclipping – to go to the vet or do myself?

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    • Rufus
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        Last time I tried to clip Rufus’ nails he ended up breaking his dewclaw off and eating it. We then went to the vet to check it out and they clipped his nails for me after giving him painkillers and checking him over.

        Now it’s been about a month and he’s due to have them clipped again. I’m not sure how he feels but I’m utterly terrified of it! I guess I’m not sure whether I should take him to the vet (costs $30 each time) or suck it up and work out a good way to do it by myself.

        Every evening he flattens himself out on my pillow for some pats. He’s always happy during this time for me to look at his nails but I haven’t tried clipping them. Do you think this would be a good time to try? My concern is that if he hates it, he might get mad and stop coming up for pat time and that is my absolute favourite time of day with him. I feel like it would be betraying him. Previously I’ve always cut his nails on a table but he always tries to get away even if I burrito him.

        Any thoughts? I’m normally keen on doing things myself but this just makes me so nervous!


      • Baxter n Boos Mom
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          Wow – I pay $16 for 2 buns. We’ve decided to take them to the vet – because they HATE it, and my hubby doesn’t like it when they’re upset with us 🙂 But if it cost us $60 – we just may have to deal with grumpy buns.


        • rayray
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            Maybe check out an animal grooming place. I found one that only charges $10. I’m scared to do it myself as well. I used to do my cats nails myself, but bunnies feel so delicate that I’m scared of hurting him if he struggles. It doesn’t help that Ziggy has dark nails so I can’t see where the quik is.


          • mijOok
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              How long have you had Rufus?

              It costs $20 each time for me and since I haven’t had my bun for that long, I am taking him to the vet for now since I am afraid of breaking his trust with me and until I’m comfortable with trying to do it myself.


            • Rufus
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                Thanks guys. I’ve had him since March and we have a really strong bond. You’re right I’m definitely worried about breaking the bond and having him think I’m betraying him. Or even worse hurting him!

                I will have a look into animal groomers though, I found one but it was 45 minutes drive away. My vet is only 5 mins walk away.


              • mrs. coach
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                  My vet charges $8, and my bun has a couple of “weird toes” (according to the vet/techs who have done her nails), so I have them do it since it’s so cheap and she’s not difficult to travel with. That being said, I did try to clip a few of her nails while she was eating pellets, and she didn’t even notice. So it may be worth a try.


                • calipa_st
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                    My vet charges 20$! I was in shock…that’s more than when I took my dog!

                    I used to take my dog to petsmart though, I wouldn’t take my bun there…I do not trust them. I went to the vet that the coalition I adopted him from recommended and I think they are just too expensive (for anything, but the area it is in is very expensive.)

                    I do not think I will ever do it at home. I’ve discussed it with my boyfriend, and we are both too scared…I do not want to hurt my rabbit and have him get an infection etc. Also, I know he’d sense me being nervous…he’d fight me and I don’t think I feel comfortable restraining such a delicate bunny.


                  • NikitaSue20
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                      I take both my rabbits to vet to do it. They have dark nails and they wiggle too much for the flashlight trick. Speaking of….their both due for a clipping.


                    • Deleted User
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                        I had to laugh – all the prices everyone is paying to get bunny nails trimmed and I would never spend that on myself to get my nails done, ha ha ha. But how easy is it to have a laugh till reality sets in? My dogs go to the groomers for the whole beauty experience (cut, bath, blow dry, nails, etc., $50) every 3 – 4 months (I was thinking of passing Henry off as a ‘Cocker Spaniel’ maybe – with his long ears?) But in all seriousness, as Henry is an illegal immigrant (he ‘hopped’ the border) short of taking him to the vet (which I know for me is gonna be super expensive) I’m gonna give it a go myself. My vet did show me how to do it and given that he was relaxed (& I think that’s the secret) it seemed quite quick and simple. “BUT” I need to add, no I haven’t done it yet – I ‘had’ to pick Henry up a week or so ago and he scratched the sh*t out of me! (Yes, his nails need trimming too!). So am waiting for my wounds to heal. But I am still hoping (with previous advice I’ve been given) I’ll get to hold him long enough (even if it is a nail at a time) that I can do it myself? Especially considering the cost – a few times a year (?), over 10-15 years? If you feel you can while he is relaxed, even just a nail each time till he maybe gets used to it, go for it! But yes, for as easy as it looked watching the vet to do it, I bet I’ll be on this forum screaming “help with bunny’s nails”! Don’t worry BBer’s – I’m sure I still have about 2 weeks of healing to endure!?!? (Dam Bunny!). If you do give it a go, let us know – I’ll be super interested! Good luck Rufus!

                        Sorry, PS. I live in Oz too. So I know there is a price difference all over the world. & luckily Henry doesn’t have any dark nails, I know that is a huge concern/issue.


                      • Annabel93
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                          I always do mine when the buns are chilled out and floppy on my bed. I like stroking their feet anyway (they’re so cute and fluffy!) so they’re happy to have me fiddle about with them. I just do it while they’re laying about and they don’t even notice it. I then give them a treat at the end so if I have made them at all uncomfortable that instantly makes up for it!


                        • Elrohwen
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                            I took my bunnies to the vet for trimming for a couple years – I really recommend it!

                            At one point I decided it was too expensive for two buns, so my husband and I started doing it ourselves. By that point, we had a lot more experience handling them and it was easier than when they were young and fought being held.

                            Personally, I wouldn’t try it while he’s relaxed, because it may worry him and prevent him from relaxing so much in the future. I just grab mine and take them into the kitchen, or lately I put them on a dog grooming table in their own room. They don’t like it, but they know the drill and when it’s over, it’s over and I’m not going to come back. Some bunnies might be relaxed and chill enough to let you do it anytime, but mine definitely aren’t!


                          • Sindri
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                              Mine wont let me clip their nails. My rabbit vet is almost an hour away so I called the vet here in town I take my other pets too. They said it would cost $10.16 per animal whether its a cat, dog or rabbit so I am going to do that sometime next week. The 16 cents kind of makes me laugh I don’t know why.


                            • rissakai007
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                                Try calling pet stores. I take mine and it’s $20 for the two of them.


                              • Baby Daly
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                                  I clip my rabbits nails. When I got Odin, his nails were really long. I found out that if I start off clipping little millimeters at a time he doesn’t mind. But if I try to take to much off at once, he pulls his foot away.


                                • Rufus
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                                    Thanks everyone! I appreciate all your advice.
                                    Earlier in the week I decided I was going to do it myself and couldn’t find the nail clippers anywhere! I took that as a sign and yesterday we went to the vet.
                                    I called around a bunch of places and couldn’t find anywhere much less expensive – Sydney is the most expensive city in the world after all! Decided to head to my vet that is walking distance and they only charged me $25 because he’s an existing patient.
                                    Rufus put on his normal vet display and climbed me like a tree, got on my shoulder and wouldn’t come down. We did eventually have success though!
                                    I think I might stick with the vet for the next while, after all $25 is less than the $80 it cost me after he snapped his dew claw off. I did it myself for the fist 6 months I had him but he was getting more and more annoyed by it so I’ll give him a nice long break with a professional before I get my amateur hands back on him!

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                                Forum DIET & CARE Nailclipping – to go to the vet or do myself?