Trimming Your Rabbits Nails

In order for you to assure your rabbit stays in good health you need to clip their nails. At first it is a frustrating job, but eventually it will become part of a routine.

   Rabbits need to have their nails clipped short for 2 reasons:
(A)Long nails can leave nasty scratches
(B)Rabbits with long nails can get them caught on the wire of a cage and rip them out completely, causing them pain.

Your going to need :

To Help Prevent Scratches
Long sleeve shirt & pants or a towel
Or a Wabbit Wrap or a Bunny Burrito


    On average you should clip your rabbits nails about every 3 weeks. The first few times you clip your rabbits nails, you may want help. You can always ask the breeder if the rabbits nails have been clipped yet so you know what you're in for if it's the first time it's ever been done. And you can plan ahead to make sure you have help.

The most important thing to remember is that there is a quik or vein that runs up the rabbit's nails.

On a white nailed rabbit the quik, or vein is easy to see. However on darker rabbits you have to judge for yourself. You will want to cut BELOW this vein for two reasons:
(1)The nail in front of the quik (vein) has no nerve endings in it and the rabbit won't feel you clip it.
(2)If you cut into the quick (vein) the rabbits nail will bleed, sometimes quite heavily.

    Try looking at your rabbits nail to see if you can see the quik (vein). If not, try shining the light from a flashlight behind the nail you are going to clip. This should make the nail more transparent and allow you to see the quik (vein) as it appears darker.

    Once you are ready to clip your rabbits nails, if you have help you can have someone hold the rabbit. Or you can use the "Cradle Method"

Sit in a chair with your rabbit between your legs, belly up, with the head towards you knees. By placing a rabbits head lower than the rest of its body you can put them in what is known as a "bunny trance". You want to be careful, because the rabbit can snap out of the trance at any given time too. Carefully place the nail clippers over the tip of the nail and cut just the very tip of the nail off(the point). If you be sure to just take the very tip (point) you will not hit the vein. Now repeat the process for the remaining nails. If you cut too high, and the nail bleeds, use the styptic powder to stop the bleeding.
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