Cutting Nails — Hickory Ridge Hollands

Cutting nails is really not hard to do, it's just that bunnies don't usually like it. Over the years I have honed two different methods. The one that I use depends on the bunny. Some bunnies will struggle constantly if placed on their backs, others will scramble if held upright.

Handy things you need or might use:

You need special nail cutters available at pet stores. My favorite are the Safari 770045 Professional Nail Trimmer, and they can be purchased on Amazon for less than $10.
A big towel.
A little flashlight.
A treat.
A friend.
Hydrogen Peroxide.
Super Glue
Paper Towels.

Method 1

1. Sit down and gently rotate the bunny onto it's back. I like to use a towel bunched up under the bunny's head to prevent neck strain. At this point, the bunny is NOT flat, it is semi-reclined, belly facing me and starting to be annoyed. (like you hold a baby on your lap)

2. Take your left hand, cross the bunny's body and grab the paw that is closet to your right hand. Use your left hand and wrist to gently press down on the bunny's chest to discourage any attempts at jumping up.

3. Use your left hand to isolate each nail and cut with your right. You might need to alternate the clippers with a small flashlight if the nails are brown, because that makes it challenging to see how far the blood vessels go into the nail.

4. Shift to the next paw, trying to retain pressure on the bunny to keep it from getting up. Repeat. When you are finished, give your bunny a treat and take a few minutes to pet it.

Method 2

1. Place the bunny down on a towel that is folded in half lengthwise, and quickly wrap it snuggly around the bunny. Make sure the bunny's head sticks out above the the towel, but all four feet are covered by it.

2. Hold the bunny close to your side, head up and with your closest arm wrapped around it. At this point the bunny would be standing on it's hind legs and be upright on your lap, if it was not wrapped in the towel.

3. Using your free hand, gently work one of the bunny's front paws up out of the blanket, leaving every other leg wrapped. Quickly cut the nails on that paw, and then tuck it back into the blanket. This should be easy, because the bunny will want to pull it's paw back inside. Repeat on the other front paw.

4. Make sure the bunny and it's front paws are snuggly wrapped and then lift the bunny slightly, and gently work a hind leg free. Quickly cut the nails and tuck the paw back inside the blanket. Repeat on the other back paw.

Where to cut? Just above the part where the nail changes from white to pink, or in the case of dark nails, where the color become more opaque (again, flashlights work miracles here).

Oops! I screwed up. Don't stress. Your bunny's nail will bleed like when you cut your finger - a lot. It will be okay. Put hydrogen peroxide on a paper towel and hold the paw firmly to help slow the bleeding. Once it slows down, CAREFULLY put a dab of super glue on the tip of the broken nail and hold the paw until the super glue dries.

Still Nervous? Squeeze twice gently before you actually cut the nail. If your bunny reacts drastically, you know you were putting pressure on a sensitive spot. Move your clippers farther to the end of the nail.

How often? About every 6 weeks. If your bunny's nails grow too long, they will either start to cause your bunny pain when on flat surfaces, or they will start to curve. If they curve in, they can cut into your bunny's paws, if they curve out, the curve might become permanent.

Personally, I prefer Method 2. My bunnies like being held upright because they feel less vulnerable. The towel layers help the bunny feel secure, make it easier to hold on to him, and also protect you from scratches. One more thing. Cutting nails can be stressful for a bunny, so it's important to take a little time when you are finished to just pet your bunny, give it a treat and allow it to calm down WHILE you are holding it. You want your bunny to understand that it can return to a happy, calm state WITH you, not DESPITE you. Just like everything else in life, cutting bunny nails gets easier, the more you do it. Good luck!