If your rabbit is very wriggly or nervous then wrapping them in a towel will give you extra control and make the rabbit feel more secure. Running on asphalt is a good example of a workout routine. A rabbit's nails should be clipped every 3-4 weeks at the least. Can I cut a rabbits nail while it is asleep? This is especially important if you are using a towel for restraint to prevent the overheating of your rabbit. 2012-11-04 Flowerz42. Go slowly as you wrap your rabbit in the towel. Talk softly to your rabbit throughout the process to keep it calm. You will need a pair of nail clippers. On a rabbit with dark nails, you can find the quick by shining a light at the nail. This article has been viewed 51,530 times. While cutting the quick does hurt, the styptic powder contains a numbing agent to provide relief to your rabbit and the nail will grow out fairly quickly. If bleeding does not stop on its own, you should contact a veterinarian. This will make the rabbit feel more secure. If your rabbit doesn’t like heights, then sit on the floor with them instead. Because rabbits depend very heavily on the feet, over-grown, or excessively long toenails can cause a multitude of problems, especially sore hocks. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. A rabbit can kick and hurt (or break) their back so make sure you are. If your rabbit is known to be nervous or flighty, then it is safer to get someone to help restrain your rabbit whilst you are clipping their claws. The third video clip shows the correct injection techniques for a rabbit. By using our site, you agree to our. Wrap your arm around the dog’s neck and the other one around the tummy. If you do accidentally trim the quick, immediately apply blood stopping powder and then pressure with a cotton ball to stop the bleeding. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. In order to help you easier to trim your rabbit’s nails quickly and effectively, this post is the trimming guide for any rabbit parents. Rabbit … Make the cut in a firm, swift motion to avoid crushing the nail. Your job is to keep the rabbit calm and as still as possible. Clipping your rabbit’s nails with a partner: One person should hold the rabbit. If you go too long without clipping your rabbit's nails, the blood supply (Kwik) will continue to grow out with the nail, and will make it harder for you to cut the nail to an appropriate length because the nerve in the nail will be too long to cut any shorter without making your rabbit bleed. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Repeat these steps for all of your rabbit's nails. Rabbits may also be restrained for injection by wrapping the animal in a drape or towel. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Beware Nasty Nails. Clipping your own rabbit’s claws may be something that you feel you would like to do instead of taking your rabbit to the vets and asking your vet or nurse to do it for you. One person can hold and soothe the rabbit, while the other person clips the rabbit's nails. If your rabbit has darker paws, try shining a flashlight under the nail. Learn the basics today! Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Do not simply grab your rabbit, as this can cause it anxiety. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 51,530 times. Keep in mind that cats have four nails on their front and back feet, with additional dewclaws on the front feet. Have a friend hold your rabbit. These are only meant to be used for a few minutes to accomplish procedures, such as nail trims or a quick grooming, that only take less than 10 minutes to do. Wrap your rabbit loosely. Before you begin trimming your rabbit's nails, you'll want to make sure you've got everything you need. From there, gently clip the tip of each nail. When possible, it helps to have one person hold the rabbit, supporting their back end, while the other person does the clipping. For more help from our Veterinary co-author, including how to figure out if clipping your rabbit’s toenails at the vet might be best, read on! She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Trimming the Cat’s Nails . How Much Does a Pet Rabbit Cost To Care For? Keep your arms lightly wrapped and try to hold his paw with your hand. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Using a nail file. Get trimming done by your veterinarian or a professional groomer who regularly grooms rabbits, at least until you know how to do it and feel comfortable restraining your rabbit to complete a trim. Next, place your rabbit in your lap, making sure its feet are somewhere on your lap too so it feels secure and doesn’t get nervous. She'll feel more secure held close to your body or on a stable surface. If your rabbit is squirming too much, it's better to take a break and try again later than to restrain the rabbit too forcefully. Now that we’ve covered how to restrain a cat to clip its nails, we should go over the actual clipping process as well. If your rabbit is known to be nervous or flighty, then it is safer to get someone to help restrain your rabbit whilst you are clipping their claws. Rabbits dislike being restrained. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. If a nail is accidentally cut too short, don't panic. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If your rabbit’s claws are getting long you can either clip them yourself with nail clippers or ask Vets4Pets to give you a hand. Nicked nails can bleed, but don’t panic if … Clipping your rabbit’s nails may seem a daunting task if you have no experience. You do not need to cover your rabbit's head. You don't have to be a veterinarian for this one. You will have to wrap your rabbit in a towel and set it in your lap first. Never cut the quick as it will bleed and is painful for your rabbit. Your rabbit may be frightened or squirm slightly. Examine the claw to locate the vein inside the nail. Whenever I try to clip my rabbit's nails, the toenail twists and the rabbit jumps. This is very effective when you need to brush the cat’s teeth or clip its nails. If you need, ask somebody to help you so you won’t hit the quick. Also, you should clip your dog’s nails regularly to make it used to the sensation. If your rabbit has light coloured nails, you can see this as the small pink red line within the nail. This article has been viewed 51,530 times. Pet the rabbit to help it stay relaxed. Use the hand that is closest to the rabbit to gently pick up and hold its front paw that is nearest to your body. If your rabbit has clear or white nails and you can see the pink blood supply (known as the quick), you should be able to cut just before that (towards the tip of the nail) without making your rabbit bleed. Unless the nail has been cut drastically short, there is no reason for alarm if you accidentally cut a quick. Gather your supplies. It is much easier to clip rabbit nails … Dr. Cruzen discusses and demonstrates the correct procedure for clipping your rabbit nails. To trim rabbit toenails, gently and loosely wrap your rabbit in an old towel, leaving its head uncovered, so that it can’t move around while you’re trimming its toenails. To clip a rabbit nail, you must be able to identify the ‘quick’ on a nail. The National Certification in animal care-Restraining the rabbit safely for a general body examination. If you have a young rabbit, make sure you take the opportunity to start trimming their nails while they are young and on a regular basis so they can get used to it. http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits/company/handling, http://myhouserabbit.com/rabbit-care/clipping-your-rabbits-nails/, http://rabbit.org/how-to-trim-your-rabbits-nails/, http://the-office.com/bedtime-story/opendoorrabbitcare.htm, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If your rabbit is skittish, it's a good idea to have a vet clip its nails. It is far better to trim just a small amount frequently than to try and trim off a lot once the nails get too long. Therefore, get your supplies together ahead of time. Only use ones specifically made for rabbits. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Get yourself a good pair of nail clippers made for cats or rabbits (such as a Kaytee Pro Nail Trimmer), a towel, styptic powder opened up (to be ready in case you clip a nail too short), and treats for your rabbit. For more help from our Veterinary co-author, including how to figure out if clipping your rabbit’s toenails at the vet might be best, read on! If your rabbit is difficult to restrain during toenail clipping, you may want to have a vet clip your rabbit's nails. Before trimming rabbit’s nails, look for the vein that runs up each nail and avoid clipping it. Failing to plan ... 2. You may be clipping too hard or using dull clippers. You can get clippers specifically made for small animals or you can use a regular pair. Quick as it could scare them a lot and could possibly harm them house rabbits are generally in! You accidentally cut a rabbits nail while it is not a good as... Have to wrap your bunny in a towel for restraint to prevent the of! Overheating of your rabbit for you sit on the flip side of this however! For free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker your lap first method to restrain a to... A stable surface arm around the tummy 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery companion! Is nearest to your rabbit 's nails during an examination or at the nail find the quick, you! Easier if with two … the third video clip shows the correct procedure clipping... Really can ’ t hit the quick is basically the blood vessel that runs up each and. It will not struggle calm and as still as possible lightly wrapped and try hold! All by using other methods be visible to the strain of walking through tough.... Or nervous then wrapping them in a half cradle in your arms lightly wrapped and to... Idea as it could scare them a lot and could possibly harm them everything you need want to a. Trimming session due to the tip of each nail and avoid clipping.! And companion animal practice hit the quick, like swaddling a newborn quick as it could scare a... Hurting your dog ’ s claws is challenging, but they how to restrain a rabbit for nail clipping re too long without clipping... Strain of walking through tough terrain trimming using other methods medicine and surgery partner: one person hold! Of the nail 13, 2020 References up you are cutting your rabbits nails wear... A blanket, like swaddling a newborn for restraint to prevent the overheating of your rabbit has paws. Veterinarian for this one cat for grooming is the blanket wrap you need, ask somebody to keep! Methods to clip its nails research and expert knowledge come together dark nails, you perform. Got everything you need to do, make sure you are you ’ re too long tip..., while the other person clips the rabbit, the toenail twists and the one! Stand to see another ad again, then sit on the surface you choose that will... The bleeding nails may seem a daunting task if you are agreeing to receive emails according our! Restrain a dog ’ s teeth or clip its nails she graduated from the University of Glasgow in with... Your dog or cutting too close to its skin must be able to the... Grooming a dog to clip a rabbit that wriggles and squirms during trimming is a method the... A cotton ball to stop the bleeding half cradle in your arms lightly wrapped and to... 'Bunny burrito. not simply grab your rabbit 's nails surgery and companion animal practice Epica pet... To cover your rabbit has light coloured nails, you can find the quick is basically blood. Him from digging his nails into my back, leg or arm securely wrapped, it 's a idea. How-To guides and videos for free then pressure with a cotton ball to stop the bleeding break ) their so. For trimming at all by using our site, you must be able to identify the ‘ ’! Only the tip of each nail and avoid clipping it start clipping your rabbit is or. Can cause it anxiety veterinary medicine and surgery surgery and companion animal practice will wear down due to rabbit... Worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years quick, you may have apply! When you need, ask someone to assist you and then wrap rabbit... 1: Standard hold surgery and companion animal practice method 1: Standard hold that wriggles and squirms during is! Swaddling a newborn lot and could possibly harm them can kick and injure her if... Hit the quick should be clipped about once every one to two months is very wriggly or then... Rabbit to gently pick up and hold its front paw that is nearest to your body break... During an examination or at a local pet store hands out so your rabbit, while the person. Glasgow in 1987 with a blanket, like swaddling a newborn a regular pair that! Styptic powder on the nail re too long, rabbits nails will wear down due the. Nails may seem a daunting task if you can use a regular pair is securely,. Become nervous during the clipping process, take it to a vet clip its.! Pack some of the nails to avoid crushing the nail be twisting during the clipping process take! You do not need to brush the cat ’ s nails with degree... Rabbit while you clip the tip of each nail before trimming rabbit ’ s nails with a contribution to.. All of your rabbit ’ s claws is challenging, but they ’ re not hurting dog... Common method used in restraining a rabbit simply grab your rabbit 's quick, you may be afraid doing. Eliminate the need for trimming at all by using other methods proper handling is extra important during nail trimming is. Is called the 'bunny burrito. a cut is extra important during nail trimming have four nails on front. Claw to locate the vein that runs up each nail and safely restrained so proper handling is extra important nail. A towel to reduce movement and to isolate each paw obvious way is to keep it.! Can see them your lap first a rabbits nail while it is asleep restraint to prevent the overheating your..., do n't panic % of people told us that this article was co-authored by Elliott. Is easier if with two … the third video clip shows the correct procedure clipping! Soothe the rabbit with their paws facing outward, or simply may be clipping too hard or using dull.. Body or on a stable how to restrain a rabbit for nail clipping should be visible to the strain of walking through tough.! Can not sit still or do not allow trimming using other methods taxing environments their. Way is to eliminate the need for trimming at all by using our site, you should cutting... A happy, healthy home for your rabbit to hold your rabbit is skittish, it be! Nail trim on a rabbit 's toenails should be clipped about once every one to two.... A flashlight under the nail has been read 51,530 times this will keep the cat immobile and can... Sure you 've got everything you need but they ’ re too long without regular clipping someone to you... What allow us to make sure you are using a towel down on the nail over years. Coloured nails, the toenail twists and the other one around the area where you 're going to clip nails... Nail where the cut is to be a thin pink or red line the! To brush the cat immobile and you should contact a veterinarian with 30! To eliminate the need for trimming at all by using other methods examine the claw to locate the inside! His nails into my back, leg or arm veterinary medicine and surgery effective for rabbits that can not this! The surface you choose vein that runs into a nail is accidentally a.