Advice on nail clipping

[Plymothian_Sophie]

Hi! My Truffles nails are starting to get a little long and I want to trim them a little. Does anyone have advice on the best way to do this? I've had her about a fortnight and she and I are both trusting in each other, and she loves being handled etc. But I don't know the best way to clip her nails, she's still young (12 weeks) and I don't ideally want to trance her, what position would you guys suggest?

 

[Bville]

I hope some experienced members answer because I'd like some advice too. I have only trimmed my boys nails once each. I held them while my daughter or husband clipped the nails. We used small-pet nail scissors. You have to be sure not to cut the quick or it will bleed. If it does you can use styptic powder or corn starch to stop the bleeding. I covered their eyes with a dish cloth because I read that covering their eyes will help calm them down. Also, try not to get any fur caught in the clippers because they will feel that and may flinch.

 

[Snoopy&Dora'sMom]

It's really helpful when you are new at trimming bunny nails to have someone to hold for you. It sounds like she's pretty used to handling so you could have someone sit hold her under the armpits and under the bum and then you can trim away. If you are by yourself, I have had some bunnies that are so good about nail trims that they will lay back against my knees when I'm sitting with my knees up (don't even have to trance) some just don't respond well to this so usually to have the best control when I am by myself I would wrap them in a towel and then just take out one foot at a time. Try and trim them every 2-3 weeks and give lots of praise and treats so it's very positive. good luck

 

[Nancy McClelland]

I use the same method--my son holds them and I clip them. Originally, I had our Vet's tech show me--we had 12 then so it was way too expensive. So, if you have someone with a couple of minutes to spare it's time to tag team them.

 

[Imbrium]

I recommend taking a look through this current thread on nail trimming (if you have further questions, feel free to ask them there instead of here so all the advice can be concentrated in one spot ).

I flip my bunnies on their back, with their head rested in the crook of my elbow. I do NOT trance and strongly recommend against it - trancing is stressful for rabbits, as it taps into a fear-based response to being carried away by a predator that causes them to "play dead" in hopes of being abandoned rather than eaten.

A bunny that trusts you and is comfortable being handled isn't too difficult to hold on their back without being tranced - you have to hold them firmly so that they feel safe and comfortable (and so that they can't kick/squirm). I support the rabbit with my left elbow/forearm and my upper body, use my left hand to splay a paw/select a nail and my right hand to clip (obviously you'd need to reverse that if left-handed).

 

[Imbrium]

Oh, and for what it's worth, I differ from the others who have chimed in - I would much rather hold the rabbit myself than have someone else hold them. I can see how it could make things easier since you get an extra set of hands, but I'm comfortable doing it all myself and if I'm holding the rabbit, I can feel every tiny movement they make. This allows me to feel them flinch if I'm too close to the quick for their liking (I always squeeze the clippers slowly for the first second and if there's no flinch then I snip), which makes it easier to cut in the right spot. Also, it allows me to anticipate a random outburst of "naughty" - I can feel when a rabbit's about to jerk or try to burst out of my grasp so that I don't go to snip a nail at the exact moment they might move that paw. I guess I just feel much more in tune with the bunny if I'm both holding and snipping.