How to Cut a Rabbit's Claws

Preparing to Cut

Inspect your rabbit's nails. All rabbit's nails grow at different paces, so there isn't a concrete rule on how often nails should be clipped. Generally, you should inspect your rabbit's nails once a month. If the nail curves at all, it is too long and it needs to be clipped. If you can hear your rabbit's nails hitting the floor when he hops, this is another indication that it's time to clip his nails. Wild rabbits don't need pedicures — their claws wear down from digging, foraging, and other routine tasks. Domestic rabbits, however, do not use their claws so much, and it is your job to make sure that they don't grow too long or sharp. Rabbits have four nails on their rear feet. On their front paws, they have the four toenails, and then the dewclaw. The dewclaw sits slightly higher than the other toenails, on the inside of the paw.

Choose a nail clipper. People typically use both dog- and cat-claw trimmers to cut rabbit claws. Either option will do the job, so your choice is mostly a matter of personal preference. Make sure to choose a clipper that matches the size of your rabbit: if you have a very small rabbit, it will be much easier to cut its claws with a small set of clippers. Some nail clippers include a safety to ensure that you don't cut too much. Scissor-style clippers. These clippers are usually used to trim cat nails. As the name suggests, they look and work just like scissors. You may enjoy the freedom of motion and movement these clippers offer over the next style. Guillotine-style clippers. These clippers are typically used for dogs because they can handle thicker nails. Much like a guillotine, these clippers have a circular hole into which you slip the nail. Squeeze the handle, and a blade cuts the nail. Guillotine clippers may give you slightly more control than the scissors.

Keep a styptic on hand to stop bleeding. It's possible that if you cut your rabbit's nails too short, they will bleed a little. There is a blood vessel—called a quick—inside each of your rabbit's claws, and it may begin to bleed profusely if snipped. Styptic powder promotes clotting, so it is good to have some on hand when trimming your rabbit's nails. To stop the bleeding, simply grab a pinch of styptic powder and dab it on the source of the bleeding You can also use plain baking flour as a makeshift coagulant. You can buy styptic pencils or styptic powder in most drugstores. Styptic pencils make it easy to quickly deploy the anti-bleeding substance, and they may be easier to find than pure styptic powder.

Ask someone to help out. If you've never cut a rabbit's claws before, it might be hard for you to simultaneously restrain the animal and clip the nails. A partner can stabilize the rabbit while you work on the nails. If no one is available, you can still cut the rabbit's nails by yourself.

Restraining Your Rabbit

Calm your rabbit. If you rush the procedure, you might stress the rabbit out. If your rabbit is uneasy, it may panic and thrash around while you try to restrain it or trim it. Hold your rabbit in your lap, gently, and stroke it for a while before you start the cutting process. Wait for your rabbit to relax — it should be still, peaceful, and breathing deeply. If its eyes are closed or partially closed, it's probably comfortable.

Gently restrain your rabbit. It's important to keep your rabbit still while you trim his nails; some rabbits may panic and thrash about if they feel threatened. Be gentle, firm, and reassuring to keep your rabbit calm and immobile. Rabbits are fragile, and you can hurt them if you restrain them too roughly. Hold him in place, and only apply pressure if he starts to struggle or tries to get away. Never press down on the rabbit's back or spine. It is easy to break a rabbit's back — it does not take much. If your rabbit panics and struggles, apply moderate pressure to his flanks. The flanks include the sides of his body and the haunches of his legs. This pressure mimics being squeezed together with other rabbits in a burrow, and it can help to calm a stressed-out rabbit.

Hold the rabbit against your body. Place the rabbit on the edge of a table, then use your forearm to hold him against your body. You generally need to sit while doing this. Cup your hand underneath his chest, and use your elbow to keep his hindquarters pressed against you. Make sure your rabbit is comfortable in this position. Only hold him tightly if he begins to struggle. Try cradling your rabbit in your lap the way you'd hold a baby. Rest the rabbit's back upon your legs, and lay its head in the crook of your elbow. Use one hand to hold out a paw, and the other hand to clip.

Wrap your rabbit in a clean towel. Cover up everything but the head, and make sure not to trap the ears. This will help keep the rabbit still and comfortable. . Once the rabbit is wrapped up, pull out one foot at a time and clip the nails. Place each paw back inside the towel before taking out the next one. Hold the rabbit on your lap, or lay him onto a non-slippery surface: lay a towel or mat on top of a sofa or table. The important thing is that your rabbit is calm, comfortable, and immobile. If your rabbit is afraid of heights, sit on the floor with him. You'll be able to tell that he is afraid if he squirms and visibly panics when you lift him to a high place.

Find someone else to hold the rabbit. If you wrap your rabbit in a towel, your helper can restrain it on a surface by holding it gently on each side of its body. You may also ask your helper to pick up your rabbit and hold it while you do the clipping. If your rabbit has a habit of squirming, this may not be the best choice, because your partner could get scratched and drop him. This should work fine, however, if your rabbit tends to behave calmly around people.

Clipping the Claws

Do not cut the blood vessel inside each claw. Like dogs and cats, rabbits have a blood vessel (the quick) inside each of their claws. If you cut the quick, your rabbit will bleed painfully and profusely — so make sure that you identify the blood vessel before you start chopping away. The quick usually looks like a red or dark spot inside the root of the nail. If your rabbit has white or clear nails, you should be able to find the quick without much trouble. The blood vessel will be red or pink, so simply cut the white part of the nail above the red section. If your rabbit has darker-colored nails, shine a flashlight on the nails to find the blood vessel. The quick should be a visible dark spot inside an otherwise translucent nail. Make note of the quick's location, and only cut the nail above that spot. If you still can't find the quick, you can estimate its location by feeling the claw. Pick a location about halfway down the claw, and use the dull end of your clippers to press down firmly. If your rabbit tries to pull his paw back or struggles, you're probably pressing the blood vessel. Try again slightly further up the claw toward the point. If the rabbit doesn't react, it's probably safe to start cutting from that point.

Trim only the tip of each claw. It is better to make tiny, frequent cuts than to cut too much once the nails grow long. Clip your rabbit's claws every 4-6 weeks, depending on how active it is.

Cut the claws. Make sure that your rabbit is properly restrained. Start with the front nails: push away the fur around a claw, locate the quick, and determine where to cut. Make the cut quickly and neatly, with the least amount of movement possible. Clip the white or translucent tip of each claw, well above the quick. Before you clip, apply a slight pressure as a "test clip" — if the rabbit recoils its paw, there's a good chance that you're about to clip the blood vessel. You may need to flip your bunny over onto its back to trim the rear paws. Do this very carefully so that you don't hurt or disturb the rabbit. Bunnies with enough exercise may not need their back nails trimmed — hopping, digging, and general activity wear the nails down naturally. Remember to clip the dewclaw on each of the front paws. If the dewclaw grows too long, it may get caught on something and hurt your rabbit.

Repeat the process for each nail. Find the quick and clip the nail for each paw until you're finished. Be methodical, and take your time. Take a break between feet if your rabbit is struggling or the procedure is taking a while. This is especially important if you are using a towel for restraint — unwrap your rabbit for a few minutes to keep it from overheating. Try using treats as a reward to make your rabbit more comfortable.

Use styptic powder on your rabbit's nails, if necessary. Mistakes happen, even if you've done your best to locate the blood vessels in the nail. Rabbits are prone to sudden movements, and you may accidentally lop off more than you plan to. Don't worry — act quickly and calmly, and the cut will heal.