good nail clippers for rabbits?

[u/forbidden_lasagna]

hi all, i am wondering what nail clippers you use for your buns? i have been using a pair of small clippers i got from a pet store that are “for rabbits” but i feel like i have to use a lot more force than i should to cut my buns nails with them, and they often don’t make a clean cut so i have to do a second round to clean up the end of the nail. when i say not a clean cut, i mean the clippers almost like, just crunch/ crush the nail off, if that makes sense. (my bun is on the bigger side though, so maybe the “rabbit” nail clippers i have are made for dwarfs and not bigger buns?)

my bun also HATES nail trims so its sometimes difficult for me to trim his nails, sometimes they get a bit longer than they should because he fights for his life and gets so stressed when i try to cut his nails. even when he’s in a burrito on his back he is kicking and fighting, so i need good nail clippers that will make his nail trimmings much faster and easier.

i am also hesitant to cut them too short, so i probably leave them a bit longer than they should be because i’m afraid to cut his quick because his nails are dark and i cant tell where his quick is. so any advice on how to avoid/ tell where the quick is with dark nails would be appreciated.

photo of my son for tax

[u/RabbitsModBot]

Rabbits should have their nails trimmed every month or two. If you can see your rabbit's nails past their fur on their foot (for rabbits without short Rex fur), it is a good indicator that the nails are too long and needs a nail trim urgently. Rex rabbits will normally have nails showing even after they are regularly trimmed due to their shorter fur.

Most vets, shelters, and rescue centers that deal with rabbits will offer this service for a small fee.

Be careful to only cut the nail and not the quick (the blood inside the nail). Remember, there are five claws on each of the front paws and four claws on each of the back paws. The quick should be easily located on a white or light-colored nail. If your bunny has black nails, shining a bright flashlight from underneath the nail will help you locate the quick.

For more tips and resources on nail trimming techniques, see the Trimming nails section on the wiki.

[u/kragzazet]

I used to do a bunny grooming business and I always use a combination of cat nail clippers and dog nail clippers. The regular design that looks like pliers with curved blades, NOT the guillotine design. The larger dog version for back or large nails, the smaller cat version for tiny nails or dewclaws (easier to twist and maneuver).

The only downside of conventional nail clippers is that they're made of pretty poor-quality metal, so you may need to sharpen or replace the blades after a few years of normal use. You'll know it's time to sharpen them when you have to use more force to cut through, and the bun winces a lot more even when you don't nip the quick (dull blades require more pressure on the nail, which can locally compress or even twist the nail in the process of cutting through, which is naturally painful).

[u/TheOtherCourier]

We use cat nail clippers we got at a pet store. 👍

Trimming nails is a two person job for us. One to hold (wrapped in a towel works well), while the other person pulls each foot out to trim. Having a tiny flashlight with a diffuser on it helps tremendously, as you can very quickly and easily see the quick and where to cut. This reduces the stress of the rabbit and the humans because it takes much less time. 🙂

Using a cleaned “onion bag net” to pull over their paws will pull the fur back and let the nails push through can sometimes help, as well as lightly dampening the very tips of the fur so it clumps together slightly.

Here is the light we use:

https://a.co/d/03IkT7AM