Nail clipping, could I just hire someone?

[Stone_family3]

It needs done, Belldandy has given me war wounds....lol. Would it be wrong to just pay someone to do it? A breeder or something.



I hate saying that but I don't feel comfortable doing it as a first timer and would prefer to be shown how by someone with more experience.

 

[Flashy]

You could take her to a rabbit savvy vet and they could do it and also teach you.

 

[Stone_family3]

that would be ten times better. I had a dog for about 8 years and never once clipped his nails I always let a groomer do it.

I'm also afraid that if I do it and something goes wrong she will associate it with me and not like me..... sounds strange but I'm afraid to mess with what bonds we have created.

 

[Flashy]

You'll need to take her every 4 to 6 weeks depending on how long her nails grow.

It's not that traumatic to do it though, especially if she is co-operative and you are relaxed too. Even if you catch a nail it will only sting for a bit and a bit of bribery and good things afterwards should sort that out.

Out of my 16 I am closely bonded with a good few and regularly cut all their nails.

Maybe you could work up confidence while at the vets doing it. Once you've learnt how it might feel more achievable.

 

[degrassi]

Clipping them yourself can be scary at first but it just takes some practice. I used to be scared to do it and would get my friend who is a vet tech to come over and do it for me. But I felt bad always asking her, so I got her to teach me and I would practice with her holding him.

Now when i do it I get someone to hold my bunny while I clip his nails. It takes 2 minutes and he doens't mind at all.I"m still a bit scared to clip them too short, so I tend to not clip them too close to the quick. I end up having to clip them a little more often but i'd rather that then cut the quick.

If you are nervous go to the vet and ask them to teach you. Find someone to help hold your bunny while you do it. That way you can focus on the cutting and not worry about holding them too.

 

[Flick]

There are two videos about clipping rabbit nails here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/FastUpOnRabbitCare

 

[Amy27]

I take mine in to the vet to get them clipped and it is $15 a bunny. I use to do it at home but I hated it. I was always nervous I would hurt them.

 

[kirbyultra]

It helps if you have 2 people do it together so you have a steady hold on their little toes. One person could also hold a flashlight to better see the quick in a dark nail. There are a lot of demo videos on youtube so definitely check those out for some pointers. Kirby was mad at me for almost a whole week the first time we attempted it. It gets better with time, so don't be discouraged.

A rabbit vet will do it just as well. She usually has an assistant hold the bun down, so it's the same idea I do at home. Having a towel to wrap a nervous bun also helps. My vet will do it at no charge as part of a visit but I don't go to her specifically for nails.

 

[BethM]

I think all rabbit-savvy vets should do this for you, for a small fee. My chapter of the House Rabbit Society will do this people, as well, so if you have any rescues in your area you might check into that.

I have been clipping nails myself for awhile, but it's really stressful for me. I agree that it's much easier if you have someone who can hold the rabbit for you. (When we do it at MOHRS, we sometimes have one person clipping nails, one person holding the bunny, and one person to pet the bunny's little face to help keep it calm. LOL!)

It's also more difficult if your bunny has dark nails, as it's helpful to have another person hold a flashlight so you can see the quick.

 

[bunnybunbunb]

"It's also more difficult if your bunny has dark nails, as it's helpful to have another person hold a flashlight so you can see the quick."

I agree the dark nails are hard, but I had never thought of a flashlight. I just clip the very edge if it is to hard to see.

I have been clipping everyone's, rabbits, dogs and cats, nails allon my own for a long time now. I never find it stressful, just hard with only two hands. If you think cutting a rabbits nails is hard try doing a cat. *dies*

 

[BethM]

bunnybunbunb wrote:

"It's also more difficult if your bunny has dark nails, as it's helpful to have another person hold a flashlight so you can see the quick."

I agree the dark nails are hard, but I had never thought of a flashlight. I just clip the very edge if it is to hard to see.

I have been clipping everyone's, rabbits, dogs and cats, nails allon my own for a long time now. I never find it stressful, just hard with only two hands. If you think cutting a rabbits nails is hard try doing a cat. *dies*

With the brown nails, if you shine a flashlight through from opposite of where you are, you can usually see where the quick is. It's harder with very very dark, black nails. This does require another person to hold the light, though.

 

[Stone_family3]

Belldandy has white nails. she's actually getting better about scratching me. Most of it occurs when I pick her up and then am getting ready to set her back down or put her in her cage.