Many new rabbit owners believe nail clipping something best left to a vet. The truth is nail clipping can be quick, easy and preformed by any rabbit owner. In the wild, rabbits keep their nail trim by digging. Since domestic rabbits don't have the need nor opportunity to dig as much, their nails will have to be clipped every few months. If the nails aren't attended to, they can grow enough to curl around each other, sometimes even causing a toe deformity.
If you do accidentally cut the quick, put some Kwik Stop to the bleeding nail and apply pressure to the end of the nail. If you are using a bar of soap, use the entire bar to apply pressure (remember not to put this bar back in the bathroom!). Continue to apply pressure for a few minutes. Initially your rabbit will be a bit squirmy, so try to talk to them and keep them relaxed as the blood clots.
Let's start with a little bit of rabbit toe anatomy.
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| The rabbit toenail. Steer clear of the quick! |
A rabbit's toenail is very different from a human's. Rabbits have a vein of blood running thru their nail- this is called the quick. You want to steer clear of the quick so your rabbit doesn't start bleeding. It is best to cut a safe distance above the quick- you don't need to get very close to the quick in order to cut the nail back to a good length. Staying away from the quick is trickier for rabbits with dark nails (such as Dante) because it is harder to see. White nails are much easier.
There are some tools you will need before you start. First, a pair of HUMAN toe nail clippers.
I really dislike the nail clippers sold for rabbits in pet stores. The way they are designed allows them to "twist" the nail because the sharp parts slide side-by-side like a scissor. You may have seen this phenomenon if you've ever tried to cut a piece of paper with dull scissors. The paper ends up in the middle of the scissors with a partial, dull cut. Human toe nail clippers are big enough for all rabbit breeds and will consistently give a good cut (smaller clippers used for finger nails will probably be too small for your rabbit). Also, have a jar of Kwik Stop Styptic Powder or a bar of unscented soap. This will be used in case the quick is cut.
I really dislike the nail clippers sold for rabbits in pet stores. The way they are designed allows them to "twist" the nail because the sharp parts slide side-by-side like a scissor. You may have seen this phenomenon if you've ever tried to cut a piece of paper with dull scissors. The paper ends up in the middle of the scissors with a partial, dull cut. Human toe nail clippers are big enough for all rabbit breeds and will consistently give a good cut (smaller clippers used for finger nails will probably be too small for your rabbit). Also, have a jar of Kwik Stop Styptic Powder or a bar of unscented soap. This will be used in case the quick is cut.
To cut your rabbit's nails, flip the rabbit over on your lap. For jumpy rabbits or for owners new to nail clipping, you may want to enlist someone to help you by holding the rabbit while you cut the nails. REMEMBER: a rabbit has 5 nails on each front foot and 4 on each back foot- 18 total. One nail at a time, clip the nail down a little, avoiding the quick. If the nails are very long, it's OK to clip nails a few times until they are an appropriate length. Watch this quick video on clipping nails:
If you do accidentally cut the quick, put some Kwik Stop to the bleeding nail and apply pressure to the end of the nail. If you are using a bar of soap, use the entire bar to apply pressure (remember not to put this bar back in the bathroom!). Continue to apply pressure for a few minutes. Initially your rabbit will be a bit squirmy, so try to talk to them and keep them relaxed as the blood clots.
Although it might seem difficult the first few times, you will get use to it and become a nail cutting pro in no time!
Peggy and Dante
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