Calvin’s Care Corner
Nail Trimming 101
An often overlooked, but very important, part of a rabbit’s health is nail trimming. Nails should be trimmed on a regular basis to prevent them from overgrowing, tearing off, and even possibly impacting the rabbit’s ability to hop. Long nails are a hazard to your rabbit’s health!
How often? One of the most common questions we receive is how often nails should be trimmed. Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer. Depending on the rabbit, the period between trimmings can be anywhere from one to six months. There are a number of factors involved. First, different rabbits grow nails at different speeds. Front and rear nails can grow at different rates and therefore may have to be trimmed at different intervals. Second, there is the environment. Is your rabbit hopping on hard cement or soft carpet? Last, consider your rabbit’s behavior. Rabbits that like to dig will wear down their nails and need them trimmed less frequently. It is important that you check your rabbits nails at least every month.
Me or a professional? Many people learn how to trim nails and can easily take care of their own rabbits. Others prefer not to do it themselves, and choose to take them to an experienced groomer or a local animal hospital. Most animal hospitals offer a less expensive appointment with a veterinary technician (rather than a costly vet visit) for a simple nail trim. Just be sure you request a tech when making the appointment.
Tools of the Trade! If you are going to trim the nails yourself, you need to have the correct tools. You will need a pair of nail clippers. Many like the cat claw clippers, while others prefer the guillotine style used for small dogs. The cat claw clippers work like scissors. The guillotine clippers have a circle in which you place the nail, and then you squeeze the handle as the blade cuts across the circle trimming the nail. You should also get styptic powder, available at most pet stores, which quickly stops the bleeding if you accidentally cut the quick, a vein in the nail. Just grab a pinch of the styptic powder and place it on the tip of the nail. In an emergency, you can also try baking soda.
Where to trim the nail? Before trimming any nails, you want to get a sense of what you need to do. Hold your rabbit in a position that is comfortable for you, and try to look at the nails. If you are lucky, your rabbit has white nails. In this case, you can easily see the red quick inside the nail. You must be careful not to cut the quick, so trim the nail slightly above the quick. If your rabbit has dark or black nails, it can be difficult to see the quick, however sometimes the quick can be seen by shining a flashlight up from underneath the nail. Often, this can help you determine the length of the nail.
The Techniques! There are several different techniques for trimming your rabbit’s nails. All work equally well, so try them out, and choose the one that feels best for you. Some people can trim nails by themselves, though for many it is a two-person job. One technique is to place a towel on a table and put your rabbit on the towel. Carefully lift a paw off the table and gently press up under the center of the paw to get the toes to separate, making it easy to grab a toenail and clip. Place the clippers around the nail. Next, you can apply light pressure with the clippers to see how your rabbit reacts – if he/she flinches, you might be too close to the quick. Move slightly further out on the nail and try again, if the rabbit does not pull back, then snip! Another technique is the “Bunny Burrito” where you wrap your rabbit in a towel and then gently pull one leg at a time outside the towel to trim the nails. Many people find this technique helps to keep the rabbit still. A third and less popular position is to cradle your rabbit in your arms the way you hold a baby. You generally need to sit while doing this, and rest the rabbit’s back on your legs. Then you can use one hand to position a paw and the other hand to clip. All the while, you are resting the rabbit’s head in the crook of your elbow.
Do not forget the dewclaw!
Rabbits have four nails on their rear feet. On their front paws, they have the four toenails, and then the dewclaw that is up a bit from the other toenails and on the inside of the paw.
A happy bunny is a manicured bunny!