What's the best way to trim your bunnies nails?

United States
March 1, 2007 3:51pm CST
We have a dwarf bunnie as a pet and it scratched my little girl today. So I'm trying to get tips on the best way to trim it's nails.
5 responses
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
2 Mar 07
There was another thread on this, and I can't seem to locate it. I wrote a pretty detailed response there on different techniques. I usually use scissor type nail clippers (cat claw clippers for younger rabbits, small dog clippers for older rabbits). You can wrap the rabbit in a towel like a bunny burrito as restraint, or see if they can get them to lay still on their back for you. After you trim, it will initially be easier to get scratched unless you file the nails (or trim with a dremel). But either way, trimming nails is something that just must be done.
1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
2 Mar 07
It's definitely better when you have a helper. :) I used to have a hard time with my 11 year old rabbit, because he was a brat and hated having his nails trimmed. But now he's mellowed out with age. I can't really blame him though... his previous owners held him by the ears to trim his nails. Maybe nail trims gave him flashbacks and he had PTSD or something.
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• United States
2 Mar 07
How often should it be done? I was thinking only when they get bad, but then again I was thinking if I do it on a regular basis might work better for him and me.
• United States
2 Mar 07
Thank you for your help! The bunnies nails are offically trimmed. I think I was more scared than he was though. He'd move I jump and scream. So it took awhile, but I got it done. (With alot of help from my husband!) Thanks for your help!
5 Mar 07
I book my bunny into the vets every few months and pay them to do it. It would freak me out too much to do it- I'd be scared of hurting him!
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Mar 07
You know what I never even thought of that opition! How much do they charge you? I'll have to find a vet in my area that does it. Because I freaked me and the poor bunny out when I did it myself the other day. Thanks for the idea.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
8 Mar 07
At the animal hospital where I worked, they charged $16. That's out in California though, might be less elsewhere.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Mar 07
Wow that much. Sorry I'm super cheap. Okay I'll suck it up and just keep doing it myself. Well just establish a nail night in my house. Everyone gets their nails cut the kids, the dogs, and now the bunny. Thanks for all you help once again. Who knew a bunny could be so expensive to have. Between the food, bedding, salt and mineral wheels, and now the nail trimming. He's starting to cost me more than the dogs.
7 Mar 07
I don't trim my rabbits nails. Instead, a couple of times a month, I put their run onto the patio and let the run around on the concrete. This keeps there nails filed down nicely.
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@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
11 Mar 07
One thing to be careful of in the summer, is that rabbits are especially prone to heat stroke. I'd put frozen water bottles out in the pen, or better yet, only let them outside with strict supervision so that you'll notice quickly if they're becoming too hot. They can even get heatstroke in the shade when it's only 80 degrees out.
• United States
8 Mar 07
I'll have to try that this summer. Right now my patio is covered in about three feet of snow. That makes a lot of sense though, cause in the summer I don't have to trim my dogs nails as much. They have a run outside. Well thanks for the idea. I'll let you know how it works this summer.
• India
25 Mar 07
Usually it's best not to cut rabbit's nail as they are a vital part for them but otherwise instead of cutting them u could just try to file them using a nail filer.
@biwasaki (1745)
• United States
1 Mar 07
When I used to trim my bunny's nails, I'd use either regular fingernail clippers or a dog nail clipper. Both work fine. If the nails are light, you can see right through them, clip the clear part and make sure you don't clip the pink section. The pink is where the blood vessels are. If the nails are dark, just clip the sharp tips off. If the nail starts to bleed, dab some cornstarch on the tip to stop the bleeding. I recommend having the cornstarch nearby before you start to clip, it's easier to have it ready than hit the vessel and scramble to try and find it. It also helps to have someone hold the bunny for you so that they don't move too much. Wrapping the bunny tightly in a towel is a good idea so that they can't move very much. Good luck!!
• United States
1 Mar 07
Thank you so much. I was thinking about putting it in a pillow case, but wasn't sure if I should or not. But now I know, so once again thank you.
@biwasaki (1745)
• United States
1 Mar 07
You're welcome. I grew up raising rabbits and had to trim their nails constantly, so I picked up a few tricks along the way.
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