10-24-2006, 10:23 AM
I need help. I am a new rabbit owner and I cant find a way to get to my rabbits back legs for nail trimming. The front ones are easy but the back ones are hard! Any tips?
10-24-2006, 02:06 PM
Sit down in a comfy chair and flip the rabbit over. Then lay the rabbit in your lap with the feet sticking straight up into the air and all toes will be easily accessible. Our rabbits don\'t struggle at all like this.
10-25-2006, 03:49 AM
I must admit I struggle a good deal on clipping Petey\'s nails. I am scared to death because his nails are black and I\'m always afraid of going too deep.
I have never tried the flipping over. I always have my DH hold him tight while I do the back legs, and of course he tries to get loose. Do you think it would be easier to flip him at this stage of the game (he\'s a year and a half) or do it the way we\'ve always done it? When you flip them, does it restrain them a little better?
I have never tried the flipping over. I always have my DH hold him tight while I do the back legs, and of course he tries to get loose. Do you think it would be easier to flip him at this stage of the game (he\'s a year and a half) or do it the way we\'ve always done it? When you flip them, does it restrain them a little better?
10-25-2006, 04:09 AM
When the rabbit is flipped over, he does struggle less. My children practiced flipping him regularly before attempting getting the clippers involved. Hold him firmly across the shoulders with his ears tucked under your fingers (but don\'t hold him by the ears) Then scoop his bottom under with your free hand. The slight pressure on his ears will keep him from struggling. At first as you get accustomed to it, have one person hold the rabbit flipped over on the lap and the other person do the nail trimming. We\'ve been told that if you don\'t trim below the hair line then you shouldn\'t cut too deep. My 14 and 11 year old are able to do it quite easily. I would go ahead and try the older rabbit, just practice the flipping over often before getting the clippers out.
10-25-2006, 12:16 PM
The flipping is worth a try. He hates to be held to beging with which is why I worry, but I guess if we just try the flipping first that\'ll give us a good idea before we think about clipping.
Tx for the info.
Tx for the info.
11-04-2006, 03:48 PM
I have a countertop in my wash area that I put the rabbit on top of on a blanket or towel. Then I lean over top of him holding the back leg in one hand and clipping with the other. Then I just flip him around -not over but around to get to the others. Seems to work this way for me. Sometimes the less help you have the better off you (or the rabbit) are.