Grooming Stress

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

I decided to clip Baxter n Boo’s nails myself, rather than taking them to the vet for their clippings.  After a couple times – Boo is pretty cool with it. He doesn’t even flick his feet at me anymore  Baxter on the other hand – he just bit me, and flicked his feet at me several times.  Luckily he didn’t break skin – but he did not want me to clip his nails!  

He’s never bit the vet techs that clipped his nails.  He’s never bit my husband – only me.  So any ideas as to why he feels free to bite me?  And what can I do to get him to calm down for nail clippings?

Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

   

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

Now Baxter’s sitting by my desk – and loving being pet. This little guy is so complex.

[BunnyBrigade]

How are you cutting his nails? I know Ian gets really bitey depending on the technique that is being used. He doesn’t like it when he sees big objects (hands/fingers) coming at him. That may be the same case for your Baxter.

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

BB: Do you have to cover Ian’s eyes? Baxter was on my dryer, and I gently held one paw at a time to clip it. But since my hands were right in front of his face – it was easy to bite me.

[JackRabbit]

No advice here, I was hoping this thread had advice on reducing the *human’s* stress during grooming!

[Flabebe]

My bun freaks out when she sees the hand and clippers, but tends to freeze in fear. I usually sit her on my lap, pet her and grab her paw (but I dont hold it up, I only leave enough space for the clippers to be there.) After each nail clipped I coo “Good girl” and other praises while petting her. Perhaps giving him a treat afterwards would help him associate the nail clippings with something more positive? I use the same technique with my squirmy kitten and it seems to work for us :p But every bun is different!

[BunnyBrigade]

Baxter I do cover Ian’s eyes. I cover them with my hand. For Skipper there’s no need. I just pet her head with my other hand. And the bf cuts the buns’ nails. I do this technique: http://youtu.be/W9KemnaTGIs . I make sure to let his paws droop a little though, so if my hands aren’t covering his eyes enough he doesn’t see too much of hands coming at him. I do give them craisins afterward as a reward. It goes a long way to help assuage the bunny wrath. ;P

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

Thank you for your responses. I had watched that video a few times before even trying to clip their nails – and use the press press clip technique. I’m seriously considering using gloves next time – because my Baxter will likely bite me again.

I give him treats following the clipping/grooming session – but he’s so upset he ignores it. When he’s stressed – he tends to ignore treats, regardless of what I offer.

Flabebe: I wish I could sit Baxter in my lap – he takes off immediately! This is why I started putting him on the laundry machine – it’s too high for him to take off.

[Flabebe]

I think I just got lucky with my bun…. but at least Baxter wont jump off of the laundry machine like a daredevil!

Gloves are probably a very good idea! Also, have you ever tried giving him a treat before the nail clipping? This could probably get him in a better mood….. hopefully. He probably wont go for the “food to distract while clipping the nails” idea though!

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