How do you clip your rabbit's nails?

Answer 1

One Option: Get your vet to do it for you.

Take them to your vet and ask for a vet nurse to clip them. Rabbits don't really like having their nails cut so sometimes it's best to let the professionals do the job.

When you do something your rabbit doesn't like, he'll struggle against you, and then he can easily injure himself or you can accidentally injure him. Rabbits are delicate animals and easier to injure than cats or dogs. If you aren't confident handling a struggling rabbit, don't do it!

If you're new to clipping rabbit nails, go to the vet the first few times. Observe the vet and ask him or her to teach you. After the first few times, you might be comfortable doing it at home yourself.

Another Option: Do it yourself.

Use special nail clippers for rabbits that look like scissors, but the razor is round and small. You also need to occupy your rabbit with something like a carrot.

It takes some practice, but after the first nail or so you feel more comfortable about doing it. I begin by flipping the rabbit onto its back and holding it like a baby, tight against my body. I start with the bottom feet as they are easiest to do. With white colored nails you will easily see a pink line. This is the quick, and if you cut it, it will bleed and cause slight pain for the rabbit (similar to cutting too far on your own nails).

If you can't see the quick (if the nail is black), shine a flashlight under the nail and the quick will be revealed, or use the "squeeze-squeeze-clip" method: squeeze the nail twice with the scissors without clipping, and if the rabbit doesn't flinch that means you're safely above the quick.

Once you feel comfortable with the bottom feet give the front a try exactly the same as the back.

You should have some styptic powder or blood stopper for nails (at most pet stores) on hand in case you cut the quick and the rabbit bleeds: just dab it on the end of the nail to stop the bleeding. Flour and cornstarch also work to stop the bleeding, but they don't stop the pain like styptic powder does.

NOTE: It is helpful to have a second person hold the bunny.

You also don't have to turn the rabbit over. In fact, with many rabbits it's better not to because they might panic and injure themselves. Instead, sit your rabbit on a towel (on your lap, on the ground, or on a table surface) and hold her firmly. Some rabbits won't sit still and will need to be restrained. Have someone with you to help. Covering the rabbit's eyes (lightly, with your hands) may be enough to calm her; if not, something more advanced is necessary. Next time you're at the vet, ask them to show you how to restrain your rabbit. You can also type the phrase "bunny burrito" into a search engine - this is one method many people find useful.

Good to Know - Why Clip the Nails? If you don't clip your bunny's nails, they'll grow too long and injury will result. For example, the nail could get easily caught and torn out. Or, the long nails could cause the rabbit to stand with more pressure on the back of the feet, resulting in a condition called "sore hocks."

Answer 2

It is easiest to clip nails with a partner to hold your ferret by the scruff. You can use just regular nail clippers. You have to be very careful though. If your ferret has white or clear nails you can see closest to the paw, a pink section that ends about halfway down the nail. do not clip this!! This is a blood supply and will hurt very badly! If your ferret has dark nails and you cannot see where the blood supply stops, have a vet clip the nails until you feel confident enough to know what you are doing.

I find it easier to clip their nails by putting something they like (e.g. Ferretone) onto a dish and letting them lick at it. It distracts them so I can do their nails alone. Some sites do say to put F/tone onto their bellies but I worry about this causing fir balls

You can also trim the nails when they are asleep as some are sound sleepers

Answer 3

the easiest way is to be two, where one holds the ferret and the other one clips the nails.

It's not necessary to clip the nails to often, as a bit of length will give them better posture and allow them to climb and dig more freely.

In the beginning it's a good idea to bribe the ferret with a treat while clipping the nails, so it holds still. After a while most ferrets gets used to having their nails clipped, and you get more experience and can do it faster.

If you are two, one can hold and feed the ferret. If you are only one, you can place the treat on the ferrets tummy (can be a bit messy) :)

possible treats:

• ferret treats in paste form
• pure oil (sun flower seed oil for example)
• the yoke of an egg

Answer 4

It will depend on the individual ferret. Some need their claws clipped weekly whilst others need theirs clipped only monthly. An easy way to tell is to place the ferrets paw flat on the palm of your hand. If the claws dig into your hand they probably need to be clipped.

A tip for keeping your ferret still while they have their claws clipped: turn them on their back and put something tasty on their belly such as fish oil. They will be so distracted licking off the yummy stuff they won't notice what you're doing!

Answer 5

I seem to need to clip Itsy's nails about every ten days and I have found it is easy to do when she is napping.

Answer 6

In the ferrets nails if you look you will see where the blood comes up to trim their nails to just before you reach that area