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Stressed rabbit when holding to clip nails

MightyMax said:
It's hard to explain, but probably because I've worked with so many hundreds of rescue rabbits over many years, I have a 'firm but fair' grip that even the feistiest rabbit can't thwart! It wasn't always that way, and I have war wounds to prove it. But if you do it like you mean it - you're not going to hurt them, but not going to let them struggle and jump away - eventually they will realise that resistance is futile and also that you are genuinely helping them. Don't allow your own fear or frustration onto the scene - just a business-like approach with lots of concentration.

Sorry, I know you didn't ask for that little soap-box :lol:
Click to expand...

It's really difficult working out how much you can "squeeze" them! When they jump out your arms it's dreadful, so you want to be "firm", but they do have a way of making you feel horribly guilty and cruel, don't they? :D

Monty seems to have finally learnt that if he's struggling and I place a hand on the back of his head, that means "I'm not letting you go, calm down", and he does tend to stop struggling.

I don't know how recommended it is, but having tried holding them horizontally and it just not working, I now carry mine vertically, front paws on shoulder and arms under back legs. That seems to help as well, and I nuzzle up next to them as we walk, which again, just says "It's ok, don't panic". All things to try and avoid "squeezing"!

For preference, I would still only be picking them up when it's time for grooming/nail clipping, just to teach them not to be afraid of being picked up, that there's a very definite sequence and they know what will happen - pick up - onto lap - groom/nail trim - treats - go again. But if you don't need to groom regularly, I can see where you'd want to get some practice runs in :)

(I don't know that my rambles are any use, but hopefully it at least says that you're not alone and we've all been there with bunnies!)
 
BenjiBun said:
Thanks so much everyone it's really nice to get some feedback and similar situations regarding nail time, Migtymax and JuiaW you've seen the bulgy eye thing before too [emoji18]
sometimes i can start feeling a bit insecure about it when you feel like a terrible person trying to keep them tidy and well kept.
but like you suggested Linuxete and Monty's Mum we'll move to a higher area and in more unfamiliar territory
And to accompany that definitely as daphnepheobe and DemiS say lots of treats/food they do seem to become so preoccupied for a while that you could get in there and get clipping.

I'll keep practicing though and get more confident and they'll hopefully become less freaked out by being handled as the months go by, but will have a few Vet trims when they have any checkups or injections.


Anyway guys thanks for the support and your experience, this forum is gold.


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Click to expand...
It's worth when the vet clips, asking if you can have ago just to get the practice of finding the nails & clipping. The more practice the quicker you become.

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Monty's Human said:
It's really difficult working out how much you can "squeeze" them! When they jump out your arms it's dreadful, so you want to be "firm", but they do have a way of making you feel horribly guilty and cruel, don't they? :D

Monty seems to have finally learnt that if he's struggling and I place a hand on the back of his head, that means "I'm not letting you go, calm down", and he does tend to stop struggling.

I don't know how recommended it is, but having tried holding them horizontally and it just not working, I now carry mine vertically, front paws on shoulder and arms under back legs. That seems to help as well, and I nuzzle up next to them as we walk, which again, just says "It's ok, don't panic". All things to try and avoid "squeezing"!

For preference, I would still only be picking them up when it's time for grooming/nail clipping, just to teach them not to be afraid of being picked up, that there's a very definite sequence and they know what will happen - pick up - onto lap - groom/nail trim - treats - go again. But if you don't need to groom regularly, I can see where you'd want to get some practice runs in :)

(I don't know that my rambles are any use, but hopefully it at least says that you're not alone and we've all been there with bunnies!)
Click to expand...


Probably a good idea to do nails once a month. That sounds like a good way to do it MH.

All rabbits are different. I know what you mean about the 'squeeze'. They don't make me feel cruel and guilty, I'm afraid :lol:

It's like : "Sorry mate, but this is just going to happen, so relax", and they become quite calm and still.
 
MightyMax said:
Probably a good idea to do nails once a month. That sounds like a good way to do it MH.

All rabbits are different. I know what you mean about the 'squeeze'. They don't make me feel cruel and guilty, I'm afraid :lol:

It's like : "Sorry mate, but this is just going to happen, so relax", and they become quite calm and still.
Click to expand...

But Monty has his "You're being mean!" face down to such a fine art :lol: I have to confess, once you've been badly scratched a few times, it becomes easier to squeeze without compunction!

We do nails every six weeks to limit picking up and make it slightly easier to see nails and slightly easier to trim. But I'm not great with keeping track of things, so I do tend to start checking from when I think it's been a month, just in case!
 
Monty's Human said:
But Monty has his "You're being mean!" face down to such a fine art :lol: I have to confess, once you've been badly scratched a few times, it becomes easier to squeeze without compunction!

We do nails every six weeks to limit picking up and make it slightly easier to see nails and slightly easier to trim. But I'm not great with keeping track of things, so I do tend to start checking from when I think it's been a month, just in case!
Click to expand...


Oh yes :lol:

I once ended up in A&E on New Year's Eve with a gash down my cheek. Once they'd bandaged me up, it looked like I'd been in a brawl. I could see people in the street thinking how sorry they were for me as I must've been mugged.

Aye, they weren't wrong there! :lol:
 
Thanks Montys Mum, no ur not rambling at all, this is great for me to know.

Oh and I know what you mean about the faces and they work on me.


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MightyMax said:
Oh yes :lol:

I once ended up in A&E on New Year's Eve with a gash down my cheek. Once they'd bandaged me up, it looked like I'd been in a brawl. I could see people in the street thinking how sorry they were for me as I must've been mugged.

Aye, they weren't wrong there! :lol:
Click to expand...

[emoji5] that's a shame, it would be embarrassing for your poor partner and people going oh look what they've done to your face [emoji28]


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BenjiBun said:
Thanks Montys Mum, no ur not rambling at all, this is great for me to know.

Oh and I know what you mean about the faces and they work on me.


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Click to expand...

Sorry MontysHuman my phone decided to change your name to mum [emoji6]


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