Rabbit Grooming - Nail Care and Trimming Tips
Rabbit grooming involves trimming the nails frequently. However that process may be an ordeal. It has to be understood that they had evolved in the wild as prey to a wide variety of animals and so they are on a constant look out for danger. Despite the protection and comfort provided at home, every time nail trimming is attempted they may react harshly if proper technique is not followed. Choose an open bright location to perform the nail trimming to rabbits. You could wrap a towel gently around the rabbit to restrain them from movements. Another towel could be used to collect the nail clippings and discard them. Though there are rabbit nail trimmers available at pet shops, human nail clippers may be used if they are not available readily. But human nail clippers do not trim off a split nail. Guillotine styles nail trimmers or scissor like trimmers can replace nail trimmers specifically designed for rabbits. It is good to have some styptic powder close to u which helps in case of accidents. Be prepared with all the required items at reachable distance before you start the procedure. Leaving them in between is not a good idea since the rabbits get stressed out if they are held again immediately after an escape. With all the items kept ready around you, you could sit on the floor and invite the rabbit to your lap. It is good if you can seek somebody to help you to hold the rabbit or to wrap in towel with the foot exposed. Give some time to the rabbit to relax. By holding the foot firmly and observe the location where the quick starts inside the nail. The quick is the blood vessel that feeds the edges of the nail. Care must be taken to avoid nicking the quick since they bleed profusely and cause pain to rabbits. If your rabbit breed have black nails, it may be difficult to spot the quick. In such instance wetting the nails helps distinguish between the nail and the quick. Check for an indentation as the nail curves by the edge. It is better to trim the nails a little to avoid accidents. It has to be understood that all these happen while the rabbits are wrapped in the towel, they will be stressed out. So carefully but quickly complete the trimming procedures. Holding the foot firmly clip the nails from underside avoiding getting closer to the quick. If a quick is nicked accidentally dab a little styptic powder onto your index finger and tough the quick lightly and repeat the application until the blood flow stops. You could move to the next foot and come back to the injured nail later. Though it is neat to complete the trimming in one sitting, it is not essential if the rabbits exhibit discomfort. If some nails do not show growth, they can be skipped. Ensure the trimming process and quick and safe for the rabbits. In case you had nicked the quick ensure you keep the rabbits in your lap for sometime before letting them go, so that bleeding to not start when they run around. More Rabbit Selection Articles: | 