Nail Trimming

[bunniesrcute]

Does anyone have ideas how to calm a bunny for nail trimming? Mine seems to get overly worked up, but I need to trim her nailsso she doesn't hurt herself. Insight on calming techniques would be appreciated.

 

[LakeCondo]

Have you tried wrapping in a towel & exposing only one foot at a time? There's a video of this out there somewhere.

 

[bunniesrcute]

I'll give it a try. Thanks a bunch!

 

[MiniLopHop]

I feed Gary crasins. He has the sweetest little squeek like "don't eat me, I'm a baby!" and thrashes around. I put him on his back and hand him a crasin. As long as he's chewing he stays still so I can clip. It takes a crasin per paw, but it's worth bribing to get cooperation. With this method he has gotten much calmer over the last few months so it is getting easier.

The rest of my buns have learned handling = treats so they don't struggle when I pick them up.

 

[qtipthebun]

That's how I do it. I get her to hop up onto the towel and then give her a piece of cilantro to distract her while I wrap her up and flip her over. I brace her between my upper legs (sit with your feet on the floor about bunny-width apart) so the wrapped bunny is secured. Then I take one paw at a time and clip it. She doesn't mind a bit.

My dad's bunny takes one person to hold her, one person to feed her, and one person to clip her nails.

 

[Watermelons]

I do both my guys upside down in my lap, sometimes they get up and freak out a little and try and get away but i just re-flip the little brats.
Some bunnys hate being held so I will simply let them sit on the counter and i just use my fingers to push the hair away from their toes while i stick my face on the counter to get a better view and clip from there.
Others can be towel bunnys and the bunny burrito works great.

 

[Buttercup n Charlie]

Our vet showed us an excellent way to hold the bun while cutting her nails (we just cut her nails last night coincidentally). Hold her on her chest under her front paws with one hand (so that her legs stick away from you) and let her back rest firmly against your chest. Then use your other hand to hold her right around her hip/stomach area, cupping over the knees a little bit. This way, their legs are supported, they cant kick and they cant see the clipper. Buttercup remains fairly calm when doing it this way (she hates being on her back) as long as we do it quickly ... now of course if you pinch a nerve ... then they're never calm. And of course, end every clipping session with treats. Or even treat them throughout

 

[bunniesrcute]

Thanks for the idea.