a long-sleeved shirt and long pants for yourself (to prevent scratches) a towel to wrap the bunny in a flashlight (optional) to find the quick nail clippers - some people prefer to use human nail clippers for rabbits, while others prefer a special rabbit nail clipper styptic powder, styptic pads, Kwik-Stop, or Cut-Stop to stop the bleeding if you cut too close[2] X Research source
Wrap the rabbit in a clean towel with his paws sticking out. Make sure your rabbit’s head is not covered by the towel, as this may frighten him and/or affect his ability to breathe. Make sure your friend is sitting down while holding the rabbit. If the rabbit squirms out of your friend’s hands and falls while she’s standing, the rabbit may become injured.
Ensure that the rabbit is held in place in your friend’s lap. Lay the rabbit belly-up and upside down, with his head pointed toward your friend’s knees. Laying a rabbit upside down with his head lower than the rest of his body puts him into a calmer, “trance-like” state. However, some behaviorists advise against putting rabbits in the ’trance’ state as they only do this when they are extremely frightened – the fact that they stay still when belly up is a desperate attempt to make a predator overlook them. Have your friend use one hand to support the rabbit around his chest. This will help reduce the chances of him squirming free while you work.
You’ll need to find the quick on each nail before cutting. Take extra care not to rush this part, as cutting into the quick can be very painful for your rabbit and will cause him to bleed. Use a flashlight to find where the vein/quick extends to in each nail. This may be particularly useful if your rabbit has darker nails, which can make it difficult to find the quick with the naked eye.
Position the nail clippers in place just below the vein. Make sure you cut approximately two millimeters away from the quick. Clip firmly to ensure that the nail is cut all the way through. Otherwise, if you only cut halfway through, your rabbit may become frightened and start to thrash and squirm.
Make sure you get each of the nails on all four paws. Give your rabbit a treat when you’re finished. He may come to associate the discomfort of nail trimmings with a treat, which could make him calmer in the future. Trim your rabbit’s nails every four to six weeks to prevent injuries and overgrown nails. [4] X Research source If you don’t feel capable of trimming your rabbit’s nails on your own, you can take him to a groomer or a veterinarian for instructions on how to trim the nails. You can also pay to have a groomer (or your vet) trim the nails for you.
Try to restrain the rabbit. You should be able to tell which paw is bleeding, so while your friend restrains the rabbit’s body you’ll need to hold that paw and examine it.
Use clean gauze, a clean paper towel, or both. Put pressure directly on the wound - in this case, the tip of the nail. Applying pressure may be enough to stop the bleeding for a small wound. If it keeps bleeding, you’ll need to use a styptic product.
If you’re using a styptic powder, wipe away the blood and press a pinch of the powder directly into the tip of the bleeding nail. If you don’t have a styptic powder on hand, you can improvise by using cornstarch or flour in the same way you would apply a styptic product. Some people find that gently pressing an injured nail into a bar of mild bath soap can help stop the bleeding.
Wait for about 5 to 10 minutes to ensure the bleeding has stopped before leaving your rabbit unattended or returning him to his cage.
Brush your rabbit at least once every week. Choose a bristle or pin brush to avoid injuring your rabbit’s skin. Brush in the natural direction of hair growth - typically, this will be from head to tail.
Check your rabbit for mats every time you brush him. If you find a mat, do not cut it out with scissors. Use a mat splitter or mat rake to tease out mats and detangle them without cutting.
pain/sensitivity to touch frequent head shaking redness/swelling, especially in the external ear canal thick, white fluid in the ear canal (which may sometimes be creamy in texture) excessive ear wax odor in and around the ear crusts forming around the ear canal digging at the floor and/or holding down the ear (a sign of pain) lack of appetite or interest in food patchy hair or loss of hair around the ears scaled skin around the ear canal
You’ll probably only be able to see the front teeth (incisors) in your rabbit’s mouth. The incisors should be even. That means both top teeth should be the same length, and so should both bottom teeth. Make sure there are no cracks in the teeth, no loose teeth, and no food or debris trapped between the teeth. If you observe any problems, contact your vet immediately, as your rabbit may need medical help.
Rabbits should visit the vet at least once every year. Older rabbits (over five years old) may need to see the vet twice a year. [8] X Research source Let your vet know about any problems you’ve observed or concerns you have about your rabbit’s health.
