How often should I clip my rabbit’s nails? When done properly it should be quick & painless. Regularly tending to your rabbit’s nails is a necessary part of caring for bunny. A broken toenail will bleed a large amount and is painful to the bunny. Long nails also have a higher risk of snagging and breaking. If the nails get extra long they can start to curl around, twisting the toe and making it very difficult to walk. This can cause discomfort when moving around, it can also lead to sore hocks ( click here to read more about this). If a rabbit’s nails get too long, it changes how their feet contact the floor. But many pet rabbits will need the help of their human friend to keep their nails the right length. Wild rabbits (and pet rabbits with access to soil for digging) naturally wear down their nails digging burrows. Finally, give your rabbit a treat! Even if you only got one foot done, be sure to reward your rabbit with some positive reinforcement and conditioning.Keeping your rabbit’s nails trimmed is important for both their health and comfort.Once you are done trimming as many toes as your rabbit will allow, quickly recheck all the nails to make sure they are not bleeding before letting go of your rabbit.This is especially important if you are using a towel for restraint to prevent the overheating of your rabbit. Take a break between feet if your rabbit is struggling or the procedure is taking a while. Repeat these steps for all of your rabbit's nails.Everyone who regularly cuts nails on their pet has trimmed one too short at some point in time so do not feel as though you are unable to trim nails if you get one too short. Unless the nail has been cut drastically short, there is no reason for alarm if you accidentally cut a quick. While cutting the quick does hurt, the styptic powder contains a numbing agent to provide relief to your rabbit and the nail will grow out fairly quickly. Quickly pack some of the styptic powder on the end of the nail to stop the bleeding. If a nail is accidentally cut too short, don't panic.Make the cut in a firm, swift motion to avoid crushing the nail. Slowly squeeze the trimmers to cut the nail and if the rabbit flinches move a bit toward the tip of the nail (you may be too close to the quick). Never cut the quick as it will bleed and is painful for your rabbit. Place the clippers on the nail where the cut is to be made. If your rabbit has clear or white nails and you can see the pink blood supply (known as the quick), you should be able to cut just before that (towards the tip of the nail) without making your rabbit bleed. It is far better to trim just a small amount frequently than to try and trim off a lot once the nails get too long. Once your rabbit is wrapped in the towel and has calmed down, trim only the tip of the nails.You can use treats to reward your rabbit and entice them to be swaddled in the towel. Set your rabbit back down, and try again once your rabbit calms down. If they start to struggle, stop the process. A rabbit can kick and hurt (or break) their back so make sure you are handling them correctly and supporting their hind end well.
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