How to properly trim the nails of decorative rabbits at home

Trimming the nails of decorative rabbits is considered an important element of pet care. This procedure has a number of features. For it to be successful, it is important to prepare the necessary tools in advance and strictly follow a certain sequence of actions. The manipulation should be performed as carefully as possible so as not to disrupt the integrity of the blood vessels and not injure the animal.


Why is nail trimming necessary?

Trimming your nails is not very pleasant. But this is an important hygiene procedure that rabbits require.Pets' claws grow quite quickly. They do not cause discomfort to wild animals because they wear off when moving on rocky ground.

A domestic decorative rabbit should definitely have its nails trimmed. When moving on a smooth floor, they cannot wear off. In addition, there are a number of factors that create the need for this procedure:

  1. The animal can be injured by its long claws if it tries to scratch itself.
  2. Overgrown claws prevent the pet from leaning on its hind legs. At the same time, the entire weight of his body falls on his heels. This leads to the formation of calluses.
  3. With strong growth, the claws curl and bend. This leads to discomfort, as a result of which the animal begins to chew on them.
  4. The pet can be injured - for example, break a finger if it gets caught on the carpet.

rabbit haircuts

At what age should you start?

For the first time, it is recommended to trim your nails quite early. Veterinarians advise carrying out this procedure when the baby rabbit reaches 1.5-2 months.

Optimal cutting frequency

It is recommended to perform the manipulation at intervals of 3 weeks. You can do the pruning yourself. If you have any doubts or concerns, it is recommended that you contact your veterinarian.

rabbit haircuts

Necessary tools for the procedure

To trim claws, you should use special tools. These can be wire cutters or scissors. Some people buy equipment that is designed for dogs or cats. It is important to ensure that they can be used for rabbits.

It is best to take the smallest devices. They must have a safety mechanism to avoid causing traumatic injury to pets. Many experienced animal breeders do not recommend using nail clippers, which are sold in specialized stores.Such tools quickly become dull and twist the claws.

Expert:
The advantage of scissor-shaped nail clippers is their high degree of maneuverability, which ensures freedom of movement.

Often, ordinary pedicure nippers are used to perform the procedure. Such tools are sold in manicure departments. When choosing a tool, you should give preference to a device with a large gap. Otherwise, the animal's claws will not fit. The advantage of such a machine is the ability to cut off thick nail plates. With its help, it is possible to keep the process under control.

rabbit haircuts

The rabbit owner must buy a drug to stop the bleeding. If the procedure is performed for the first time, there is a risk of cutting the claw too short. As a result, blood may appear. Sometimes the pet twitches during the procedure. As a result, the scissors accidentally hit the living part of the nail.

In case of bleeding, it is recommended to sprinkle the cut area with a special substance. If it is not there, it is permissible to use ordinary flour. A hemostatic agent can be purchased at a pharmacy. It is sold in stick or powder form.

Preparing the rabbit

Usually, nails are trimmed during grooming. It is recommended to accustom the animal to the unusual procedure little by little. The easiest way to trim claws is when the baby rabbit is lying on its back. Therefore, periodically it should be placed on your knees, hold the front paws with one hand, and finger the fingers with the other. Little by little, the pet will get used to such actions and will not resist.

rabbit haircuts

If you have never had to trim your claws before, you should ask someone to hold your rabbit during the first procedure. If there are no helpers, it is important to try to calm the animal.Otherwise, at the most crucial moment, he will get scared and begin to break free.

To avoid such problems, it is worth limiting the animal’s mobility. To do this, you need to wrap it in a towel and leave only your head free. Then trim the claws, releasing one paw at a time. Before you take out the next paw, the previous one must be removed under a towel.

How to trim an animal correctly

It is recommended to start trimming nails at home from the front paws. To gain greater access to the claws, it is recommended to press on the pad and move the fur to the side. This will make it possible to examine each claw in daylight and find the pulp. It is a living tissue with blood vessels and nerves. The pulp is located near the very base.

rabbit haircuts

If your pet's claws are transparent, the red capillaries of the pulp are clearly visible. However, they can also be seen through the dark stratum corneum.

Then use a nail clipper to remove the dead end of the nail. At the same time, it is recommended to cut it in several stages to avoid accidental damage to the pulp. After cutting, it is necessary to inspect the claw again for the presence of sharp fragments. If you have them, you should use scissors or a coarse file.

It is also recommended to trim the claws located on the vestigial fingers. After treating one paw, you should take a break. This will help the pet, wrapped in a towel, calm down. You need to give him a five-minute rest. In this case, it is recommended to turn the pet around so that it does not overheat.

During rest, you should hold the animal in your arms and give it its favorite treat - this will help eliminate the stress of the procedure.

What to do if a capillary is damaged?

Even experienced people can touch the pulp, which will lead to blood. In such a situation, it is recommended to use a hemostatic pencil or hydrogen peroxide. If the bleeding cannot be stopped, you should take your pet to the veterinarian. After treatment, it is important to stop walking around the house or street for a certain time.

Regular nail trimming will help prevent traumatic injuries and illnesses. If the procedure is carried out systematically, the rabbit will be able to adapt to it and will not experience stress.

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