How to CUT or TRIM a rabbit or bunny's toenails,BunnyCentral

[speedymybunny]

my bunnies nails are black and i cant tell where to cut. what should i do????



[bunnycentral]

@speedymybunny : go to this YouTube site and see her video there: FriendlyTails

[thien3420]

You have a good way to treat you animals now my bunny wont scratch me, thanks!!

[bentricky]

I literally can't see a thing, this video is such low quality it hurts.

[bunnycentral]

@bentricky Sorry, As you may have noticed it was made 4 years ago. Someday I'll make another. G

[bunnycentral]

@bentricky Watch it in a small format, that may help.

[marista31]

I'm afraid every time I will trim my rabbit's nails,, I think I feel the same as my rabbit feels.. :(

[bunnycentral]

@marista31 : Oh dear, sad but a bit funny. G

[scrappyjuls]

oH my god I am so happy I found this video ...I have a house bunny and I rescued him and nobody will cut his nails and they are very very long and I am going to cut his nails tomarrow thank you so much ...

[bunnycentral]

@scrappyjuls : Someone brought me a rescue bun and her nails were 1 inch long! I cut them near the base above where I could see the bloodline. We took pictures it was so amazing. I'm sure she feels so much better now.

[deathdrop666]

Holding the rabbit on it's back like that doesn't make the rabbit calm at all, it's actually highly stressful for rabbits and makes them stay still because it's their last ditch attempt at not dying with predators - play dead and they might let you go.

[jessiew1964]

My bunny panics... :(

[theailenwar]

can i use a regular nail clipper

[LenGeoVideos]

@theailenwar : I actually prefer a human toe-nail clipper, you can actually one can see where you are actually cutting, so yes.

[theailenwar]

@LenGeoVideos lol the only problem is i get nervous doing this and i dont cut it fast then my bunny gets scared

[LenGeoVideos]

@theailenwar : Have someone hold the rabbit for you, it is easier that way, they hold, you cut. 

[nakedBison69]

That rabbit is SO ADORABLE! :-)

[JusufJan]

My rabbit is like crazy kicking me with his back paws, when everytime I try to just hug him, not to mention hold and cut nails! You are really lucky having such a quiet boy

[pynqlydz]

how do you get the bunny to be so calm. Mine won't sit still and keep kicking at us! :(

[bunnycentral]

@pynqlydz , I wear a sweatshirt and get a good grip on them when they struggle. Whens they stop struggling I loosen my hold, it is a give-and-take thing. I reward them with loosening - when they stop fighting. You can have one person hold and another cut, that helps.

0509Nicole below CBRHurricane6's She has a good message about google videos and rabbits having long memories. Also pick your rabbit up every day and give them a treat so they associate being picked up with a pleasant experience.

[sam90iq]

i just bought a baby rabbit and she's only 4 weeks old, but i dont no how old she needs to be, before i cut her nails ?

[TheKarlez]

Um yeah I have the same question.. I bought mine at 5 weeks old, and now shes 9 weeks old. I have been cut many many times by her, and I was wondering how old they have to be or how long the nails have to be to cut them?

[pegerickson]

@sam90iq Your bunny should still be with the mom. Normally they should not be released for at least 8 to 10 weeks.Anyways, be sure u are giving her timothy hay daily and fresh water and you can give her alfalfa hay for now too till she is a little older. In case they didn't tell you. Once the nails grow past the fur typically is when u cut them. Rabbit rescues are in almost every city. They will do for free and give u loads of info. A vet will cost $10. Be sure u find a rabbit savvy vet only.

[PBJayedHaru]

I think it's about 6 months +

[bunnycentral]

I have a video showing how to file them on the BunnyCentral channel. I know those little nails are sharp and you can file the tips a bit to make them a bit easier to handle. If I have not filed I clip them the first time at about 12 weeks, just tip them, keep away from the quick.

[footballfio65]

video is horrible quality

[bunnycentral]

Yeah, I'm getting a new camera for Christmas ;-)

[bunnycentral]

This is the Vid maker, Georgia. The owners of that rabbit were unable to turn him over or cut his nails. He was too wild for them. I (gently) held his head for a sec till I had him calm. And then cut his nails. He is not in a headlock. The important thing is to hold his left arm enough so he could not flip over. Also, he is level or slightly upward, not upside down. 0509 Nichole is replying about the previous poster who puts his bunny into a trance.

[0509Nicole]

NEVER EVER turn a rabbit upside down like this. It restricts their airways and when they can't breath for long enough they will have a stroke! Why do so many people not realise this?? It's not normal for them to go into a trace like state!

[CBRHurricane6]

ok, wow, i didnt know that, someone i know from a pet shop did that to determine if hes a boy or girl, i had no idea its not good for them, well im taking him to a vet today to get a check up to have him fixed, hes started to spray so i gotta get it done, ill ask the vet if theres a better way to get this done, he wont let me cut his nails any other way so ill see if the vet can suggest something, i dont want to hurt him or endanger him, so ill find out another way

[0509Nicole]

If you go onto Google images and type in 'how to cut a rabbits nails' there are quite a few videos showing how to hold the rabbit properly. It's all about practice and getting them used to it. Rabbits are actually quite clever. They have very good memories so if they always associate you picking them up with an unpleasant experience they wont let you pick them up.After you've cut the nails do something he likes like give him his favourite treat or toy so he doesn't learn to hate the experience

[CBRHurricane6]

yea, ive always given him a treat after nail trimming, he doesnt seem to be holding a grudge, hes a very relaxed bunny as far as people holding him, and even small children which can get a lil rough as they dont know better yet, hes never bitten anyone, but when you try trimming his nails he heads for the hills, ill check out the web search you suggested, hes my little buddy and i luv him so i dont want to hurt him

[ThePhilosophersTruth]

@Nicole, you'll never see me turn my bunny upside down ever again! I did that to him and when he turn back over his eyes wobbled around and he couldn't walk, and started chasing his tail for lack of balance, and fell over, and couldn't get back up again. I took him to the emergency room, got him on meds, he got better thank God. I will never turn him over ever again, I think it can do something to their ears and their balance.

[CBRHurricane6]

wow, that seems like it works, but i didnt have to go that far, i just put him on his back....then he goes into the "Trance"

then i cut his nails, tell him hes a good boy, then tell him go ahead, he rolls over, then goes about his buisiness.....wow, i have a really good bunny

[CBRHurricane6]

im definitely not gonna put him in a headlock....that doesnt seem cool

[madgirl281]

the bunny is cute

[princessbubblez13096]

I dont really think charlie will let me do that..

[OrindaHorsemensAssoc]

Have a friend help you.

[Ferniekicksbutt13]

are you trying to suffocate him by putting your arm through his neck???? rofl jk but is it comfortable for them?

[jamewoong]

i wonder why each time i put my bunny in a box, it always pee and sh*t. is that a sign of scare?

[bunnycentral]

I am not sure, perhaps the bunny is marking the territory, making it its own space.

[jamewoong]

my bunny has long nail now and i need to cut. how come mine becomes aggressive when i try to hold it? i'm scare to hurt it when it escape like that :( your bunny seems to stay calm when you hold it even when you cut its nails. wonder when mine could do the same

[bunnycentral]

Have a friend help you cut the nail and wear a sweatshirt to protect yourself from the struggle.

See my note in the comment string above "That bunnies owners could not hold him at all." for suggestions.

[clarkshiraz]

i was searching for how to skin a rabbit..and i found how to cut a rabbits toenails...thats hilarious!!

[bunnycentral]

Trim 'em vs. skin 'em, hmmm definitely a difference. We prefer to take care of them rather than eat them, but we have show rabbits not eating rabbits,

[bunnycentral]

That bunnies owners could not hold him at all. I can ... I hold them firmly and grip their left arm till they quit struggling. Most people are "too gentle" when they hold them . They like to be secure (but not squished). G.

[paigebasketcase]

ggeeeeeez your bunny is so calm. my rabbits will freak. maybe im just holding the wrongg when i do it

[RabbitLover479]

Yes you can... thats what i do

[dietdewdrop]

needing some help with rescued rabbits and they are very long nailed- to the point of curling under now....how should i handle this ? also someone suggested trimming a little bit each week but it doesn't seem to help, they just continue to grow back as fast as i cut them . there are 6 of them . thanks for any help you can give me.

[bunnycentral]

Is the bloodline very near the end? Even long nails usually have a bloodline that is much shorter than the actual nail. So If that is true you cut as short as possible, staying 1/8 in outside of the bloodline. then they will be very thick and shorter. The other advise is true too, but you must cut them carefully short and the bloodline is supposed to recede. I have not had to try this however, luckily.

[bunnycentral]

You can also have them in a pen on rough cement some of the time as long as it does not hurt the bottom of their feet.

[bunnycentral]

I rarely have this problem. Then today I got some rabbits for bunny boarding and their nails were extremely long. I could see the blood line and it was (like normal) near the toe, not out on the nail. So I cut them in the usual place 1/8 inch outside the bloodline and they are OK.

[bunnycentral]

I use human TOENAIL clippers, that is my favorite because I can see exactly where I am cutting. Fingernail clippers may not be big enough so I prefer toenail clippers. G.

[bloome74]

how do you cut black nails?? mine has black ones and its soo long. im scared to cut it in case it bleeds! D:

[sarahgwenyth]

I have a dog with black nails, i shine a torch underneath the nail i am cutting (so the nail has you looking at it on one side and the torch shining on it on the other side). this makes the quick visible. it needs to be a good, bright torch and so close to the nail it is almost touching it.

[Wbeliever7]

shine a flashlight on them to see the quick but if you're not comfortable don't do it. take bunny to your bunny vet

[OrindaHorsemensAssoc]

Hmmm, I missed this. I have a video on that too. G.

[PINKYPORVIDA]

good info. i bought the pedipaw to trim my gf's dog and her daughters rabbit but it took too long so they would jump and scratch. you did it so well though. wow

[bunnycentral]

This is good to know, people ask about Pedipaw so now I can answer them. I think Pedipaw is good for dogs however, I have not tried it but am considering getting one for our dog. G

[PINKYPORVIDA]

yeah the pedipaw does work but like I said it does take a little longer. When I trimmed the dogs nails, she didn't squirm as much but the rabbit would barely let me finish.

[djbigboy]

thats one calm bunny...

for those of your that are having problems handling your rabbitt - the best thing to do is to keep trying...rabbits like to be spoiled, perhaps gain their trust with some treats

[bunnycentral]

It's funny because with his owners her was not calm at all. They were amazed.But then again I am The Bunny Lady around here. Rabbits trust me. I think it may because I handle them confidently ... gently but firmly at the same time.

Georgia

[bunnycentral]

dgbigboy has a good point. I like to use the "Ten Part Rule" 9 parts love, treats, snuggs and pets before the bunny gets put away. Be their source of pleasure.

[ckaliban]

Yeah, that looks easy. My rabbit isn't so eager to be held, let alone getting her nails clipped. I have the vet do it. With all of my bunny's running around her nails wear down.

[FunkyBeccaBecca]

ok. my bunny will have none of this "i will allow you to hold me in a headlock while you grab my feet"

any tips on handling?

[milytheturtle]

We used to roll our bunny in a towel to keep him still.

[Bunnylover1233445566]

OMG thank you soo much.

I've been learning how to like take care of a bunny...and maybe i can get one of my OWN!

Thanks again!

god bless

and take care

[chipmunkandchipettel]

thank u sooo much i needed halp w/that.

[bannam]

thanks for your helpful bunny tutorials

[kramerpatton]

Great and educational! Thanks!

[Phx85078]

what do I need to do?:

My bunny does not like being picked up, or held...

[kisaasakura]

@Phx85078

he/she probably needs to get used to it, if you recently got him or her. try bonding by holding her, feeding her treats out of your hand, and petting him/her regularly. bunnies are usually social animals, but there are also exceptions

[loublou77]

very helpful thanks