How do you cut a rabbit's toenails without cutting too deep?

Question

Soooo...I'm worried because I bought this critter cutter thing and when I try clipping, I always make a little part of the nail go red. I feel so sorry for my rabbits, then I put the brown powder on them, but they are scared every time I take out the critter cutter. I'm horrible at cutting...could any one give me a detailed explanation? Thanks SO much!

Answer 1

Just cut the very points off. Cutting a bunny's nails is easy, but don't ever try to put clothes on them - I tried to put a pair of shorts and a shirt on a bunny once and got scratched to ribbons.

Answer 2

Oh boy, the trials of cutting a rabbits nails! I hated doing that for the longest time.

Everyone I know that has a pet is scared to cut it's nails.

Hopefully I can help with a tried and true method which I actually came up with by accident one day. This works on clear and black nails as well.

Get yourself a really bright small flashlight. Yes a flashlight!

I shine the light through the side of the nail and you can see the quick (pulp inside the nail) very easily.

Once I locate the quick inside the nail I hold the pets nail with my own fingernails slightly above the end of the quick like a barrier, that way I don't cut the nail too short.

Since I've been using this method, I haven't caused a nail to bleed and we're all a lot happier about nails and tails day.

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

Okay, I used to raise and show rabbits and this is what I did.
First if the nails are clear, thats easy, You can see where the cuticle is(its the pink tune under the nail) However, If the nails are dark it's a little more complicated. I always just used normal toenail clippers. It's easier. Also, Put a small piece of pliewood or some kind of wood in their cages. That way they will scratch at the wood and file down their nails themselves. It also provides relief on their feet from the wire. Let me know if you have anymore questions.

Answer 4

I have a guinea pig and a rabbit. I clip the guinea pig's nails and I am thinking about clipping the rabbit's nail soon (I just got him and I am waiting for them to get long so that I can clip them!). Guinea pigs, dogs, rabbits, and all pets that have nails, have something called the "quick." The quick is a blood vessel and if you clip too close to the quick or if you cut the quick, the nail starts to bleed. The quick is the red part on your rabbit's nails. You only want to clip the white part (kinda like our nails, and how they need to be clipped, but only one the white part!). I hope that this helps. I know that it's not detailed, but, it's all that I really know about the quick and the nails from reading out of rabbit, dog and guinea pig books and magaizines. If you need anymore help, you can always look "nail care for rabbits" on google, or go to your local library and find some rabbit books that show about nail care. Good Luck!

Answer 5

What color are his toenails? If they are white, you can see if you are getting too close.
Just cut the tips [ 1/4 inch or so, if you do it every month. ]
Doing it frequently without making their little feet hurt will go a long way to getting them comfortable with the 'critter cutter'
[ what a horrible name! How about Peter Rabbit pedicures? ]

Answer 6

Trim only the tips, do that once a week until you reach the desired length. The more you trim them, causes the cuticles to retract so cutting too short will not be that much of an issue.

Answer 7

If you look closely, you can see the quick or vein in the nails! If they're light colored, they should be pink and easy to see. If they're dark colored, they'll be dark and hard to see so just be careful! A styptic pen should be on hand just in case - or baby powder will stop any bleeding, but will be much slower to stop it!

Answer 8

See the red that's the quick don't cut it its a vein. Cut about three millimeters away from that.

Answer 9

You just dont.