How To Make Sure You Dont Cut Rabbits Nail To Short

Download Article

Download Commodity

Trimming claws is a necessary part of keeping your rabbit healthy. Trim nails on a regular basis to prevent them from overgrowing, tearing off, and even perhaps impacting the rabbit's ability to hop. Long nails are a hazard to your rabbit's wellness! Some people prefer to take their rabbits to a vet or another professional, simply yous can easily cut claws at home with patience and practice.

1
Inspect your rabbit's nails. All rabbit's nails grow at different paces, then in that location isn't a concrete rule on how often nails should be clipped. By and large, you should inspect your rabbit's nails in one case a calendar month. If the nail curves at all, it is too long and it needs to be clipped. If yous can hear your rabbit's nails hitting the flooring when he hops, this is another indication that information technology's fourth dimension to prune his nails.
- Wild rabbits don't need pedicures — their claws wearable down from digging, foraging, and other routine tasks. Domestic rabbits, nonetheless, do not use their claws so much, and it is your job to make sure that they don't grow likewise long or sharp.^[1]
- Rabbits accept 4 nails on their rear anxiety. On their front paws, they have the four toenails, and so the dewclaw. The dewclaw sits slightly higher than the other toenails, on the inside of the paw.
2
Choose a smash clipper. People typically utilise both dog- and cat-claw trimmers to cut rabbit claws. Either selection volition do the job, and so your choice is mostly a matter of personal preference. Make sure to choose a clipper that matches the size of your rabbit: if you take a very minor rabbit, it will be much easier to cut its claws with a small set of clippers. Some nail clippers include a condom to ensure that you lot don't cut also much.
- Scissor-fashion clippers. These clippers are usually used to trim cat nails. Equally the proper name suggests, they look and piece of work just like pair of scissors. You lot may bask the freedom of motion and movement these clippers offer over the side by side mode.
- Guillotine-style clippers. These clippers are typically used for dogs because they can handle thicker nails. Much like a guillotine, these clippers have a circular hole into which y'all skid the nail. Squeeze the handle, and a blade cuts the boom. Guillotine clippers may give you slightly more than control than the scissors.
Advertisement
3
Go on a styptic on hand to stop bleeding. It's possible that if you cut your rabbit'due south nails too short, they will bleed a niggling. There is a claret vessel—called a quick—inside each of your rabbit'due south claws, and information technology may begin to drain profusely if snipped. Styptic powder promotes clotting, and so it is good to take some on hand when trimming your rabbit's nails.^[ii] To stop the haemorrhage, only grab a pinch of styptic powder and dab it on the source of the haemorrhage You tin can also use plain blistering flour as a makeshift coagulant.^[3]
- You lot can buy styptic pencils or styptic powder in most drugstores. Styptic pencils make it like shooting fish in a barrel to quickly deploy the anti-bleeding substance, and they may be easier to discover than pure styptic powder.
4

Ask someone to help out. If you lot've never cut a rabbit'southward claws before, information technology might be difficult for you lot to simultaneously restrain the animal and clip the nails. A partner can stabilize the rabbit while you piece of work on the nails. If no one is available, y'all tin still cutting the rabbit's nails past yourself.

1

Calm your rabbit . If yous blitz the process, you might stress the rabbit out. If your rabbit is uneasy, it may panic and thrash around while yous effort to restrain information technology or trim it. Concord your rabbit in your lap, gently, and stroke it for a while before you offset the cut process. Look for your rabbit to relax — it should be notwithstanding, peaceful, and breathing securely. If its optics are closed or partially closed, it's probably comfy.
2
Gently restrain your rabbit. Information technology's of import to keep your rabbit still while you trim his nails; some rabbits may panic and thrash about if they experience threatened. Be gentle, firm, and reassuring to keep your rabbit calm and immobile. Rabbits are fragile, and you can hurt them if you restrain them too roughly. Concur him in place, and just apply force per unit area if he starts to struggle or tries to get abroad.
- Never press down on the rabbit'southward back or spine. It is like shooting fish in a barrel to break a rabbit's back — it does non have much.
- If your rabbit panics and struggles, utilise moderate pressure to his flanks. The flanks include the sides of his body and the haunches of his legs. This pressure mimics being squeezed together with other rabbits in a burrow, and information technology can assistance to at-home a stressed-out rabbit.
3
Concord the rabbit against your body. Place the rabbit on the edge of a table, then utilize your forearm to hold him against your body. You lot by and large need to sit while doing this. Cup your manus underneath his chest, and utilize your elbow to continue his hindquarters pressed against you. Make certain your rabbit is comfortable in this position. Only hold him tightly if he begins to struggle.^[four]
- Attempt cradling your rabbit in your lap the style you'd agree a babe. Rest the rabbit'south back upon your legs, and lay its head in the crook of your elbow. Use ane manus to hold out a manus, and the other hand to clip.
iv
Wrap your rabbit in a make clean towel. Encompass up everything merely the caput, and make sure not to trap the ears. This will help proceed the rabbit all the same and comfortable. . Once the rabbit is wrapped up, pull out one foot at a fourth dimension and clip the nails. Place each paw back within the towel before taking out the next ane.
- Concord the rabbit on your lap, or lay him onto a non-slippery surface: lay a towel or mat on pinnacle of a sofa or table. The important affair is that your rabbit is calm, comfortable, and immobile.
- If your rabbit is afraid of heights, sit on the floor with him. You lot'll exist able to tell that he is afraid if he squirms and visibly panics when you lift him to a high place.
five

Detect someone else to hold the rabbit. If you wrap your rabbit in a towel, your helper tin restrain it on a surface by holding it gently on each side of its body. You lot may besides ask your helper to option upward your rabbit and concur information technology while you do the clipping. If your rabbit has a habit of squirming, this may non be the all-time pick, because your partner could become scratched and driblet him. This should work fine, yet, if your rabbit tends to conduct calmly around people.

ane
Do non cut the claret vessel inside each claw. Like dogs and cats, rabbits have a blood vessel (the quick) inside each of their claws. If you cut the quick, your rabbit will bleed painfully and profusely — and then make sure that yous place the claret vessel before yous start chopping away. The quick commonly looks like a red or dark spot inside the root of the nail.
- If your rabbit has white or clear nails, you lot should be able to find the quick without much trouble. The claret vessel will exist red or pinkish, and then simply cut the white role of the nail in a higher place the ruby section.
- If your rabbit has darker-colored nails, shine a flashlight on the nails to find the blood vessel. The quick should be a visible dark spot inside an otherwise translucent smash. Brand note of the quick's location, and just cut the boom higher up that spot.^[5]
- If you still can't find the quick, you tin can estimate its location past feeling the claw. Pick a location almost halfway down the claw, and use the dull end of your clippers to press downward firmly. If your rabbit tries to pull his paw back or struggles, yous're probably pressing the blood vessel. Try over again slightly further up the claw toward the point. If the rabbit doesn't react, it's probably safe to start cutting from that indicate.
2

Trim merely the tip of each claw. It is improve to make tiny, frequent cuts than to cutting too much one time the nails abound long. Clip your rabbit'due south claws every 4-6 weeks, depending on how active it is.
3
Cut the claws. Brand certain that your rabbit is properly restrained. Start with the front nails: button away the fur effectually a claw, locate the quick, and determine where to cut. Make the cutting speedily and neatly, with the least amount of move possible. Clip the white or translucent tip of each claw, well to a higher place the quick. Before you lot clip, apply a slight pressure as a "exam clip" — if the rabbit recoils its paw, there'south a good run a risk that you're about to clip the blood vessel.
- Yous may need to flip your bunny over onto its back to trim the rear paws. Do this very carefully so that you don't hurt or disturb the rabbit. Bunnies with plenty practice may non need their back nails trimmed — hopping, digging, and general action wearable the nails down naturally.
- Remember to clip the dewclaw on each of the front paws. If the dewclaw grows as well long, information technology may get caught on something and hurt your rabbit.
4

Echo the procedure for each nail. Observe the quick and prune the boom for each hand until y'all're finished. Be methodical, and take your time. Take a break betwixt feet if your rabbit is struggling or the procedure is taking a while. This is especially important if yous are using a towel for restraint — unwrap your rabbit for a few minutes to go on it from overheating. Try using treats as a reward to brand your rabbit more comfortable.
5

Use styptic powder on your rabbit's nails, if necessary. Mistakes happen, even if you lot've washed your all-time to locate the blood vessels in the blast. Rabbits are prone to sudden movements, and you lot may accidentally lop off more than than you lot programme to. Don't worry — human activity quickly and calmly, and the cutting will heal.

Add New Question

Question

How do I stop feeling anxious when cutting a rabbit's claws?

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinary with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion creature practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same fauna clinic in her hometown for over twenty years.

Veterinary

Skilful Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert reply.

Your feet is probably caused past a fright of hurting the rabbit or clipping in the wrong place. Respect the anxiety, and have an expert (such as a vet, vet tech, or groomer) prove you exactly where to cutting the hook and how to hold the rabbit safely. This should increase your confidence. Withal, clipping your own pet's nails can exist nerve wracking, and then if this isn't something you feel comfy with, perhaps ask a friend to help yous or accept him do information technology.
Question

We use a small side cut pliers to cut infant pigs' teeth, can that style side cut be used for this also?

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinary with over 30 years of feel in veterinarian surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the Academy of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same brute clinic in her hometown for over twenty years.

Veterinarian

Expert Answer
Question

How do I go the rabbit's legs out of the towel?

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of feel in veterinary surgery and companion beast practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a caste in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same creature clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Veterinarian

Adept Reply

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert reply.

In one case the rabbit is wrapped, information technology's usually possible to elect a leg to uncover and gently loosen the towel over that leg in order to wriggle it free. Sometimes this may mean you need to unpick role of the wrapping until you can reach through the folds to grasp a manus and expose it. Don't worry if the towel loosens, just comprehend the rabbit's eyes with part of the towel and hug the rabbit to you firmly. This reassures the rabbit and makes it less probable to scrabble.
Question

How do I get the rabbit'due south hind legs out of the towel?

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion fauna practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a caste in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Veterinary

Adept Answer

Back up wikiHow by unlocking this good reply.

Sometimes you need to wrap the rabbit one way, cut the front claws, then unwrap. The rewrap but in such a way that you can wriggle a hand inside the towel to worm a back leg free. Exactly how yous achieve this isn't of import, as long as the rabbit's caput is covered and they feel tightly restrained within the towel then it volition help them feel calm and safe.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email accost to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

If yous find cutting your rabbit's nails too difficult, you lot tin take your rabbit to a vet or a grooming service. Ask about clipping services over the phone or during your next vet visit.

Near This Article

Article Summary X

To cut a rabbit's claws, offset by either property your rabbit securely against your body, wrapping it in a towel, or having someone else hold your rabbit to brand sure it doesn't squirm effectually too much. Next, notice the blood vessel inside each claw, which volition be cherry or pinkish, and make certain to cutting merely the white function above this department to avert drawing blood. And then, push away the fur effectually the front hook and make quick, corking cuts. Repeat this process on the back claws, and plan to trim your rabbit's claws every four-6 weeks to continue them manageable. For more tips from our Veterinarian co-author, including how to use styptic pulverization on your rabbit's nails if you hit a claret vessel, keep reading!

Did this summary aid you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 268,334 times.