Rabbit toe nails...

[Lowell]

Do they need to be trimmed if they get long? I have a buck that seems to be going for the Guiness book!

 

[akane]

Wire caged rabbits will need their nails trimmed regularly and solid caged rabbits occasionally. The wire does not wear them down at all and eventually they'll become crooked which can impact the shape of the toe or grow back in to the foot. They also have a risk of catching on wire and breaking and causing lots of blood loss or breaking a toe with it. I have one doe with no toenail because she broke it off on the wire and I had one drench half of my coat in blood from a broken toenail when he threw a hissy fit about being moved between cages.

 

[3mina]

I like to keep them trimmed, if only to keep my skin intact when I'm moving them

 

[ZRabbits]

I like to keep them trimmed, if only to keep my skin intact when I'm moving them

Yep, me too. Not just moving them, but interacting with them. Bunny scratches sting.

Karen

 

[ladysown]

usually every 4-6 weeks they should be trimmed.

 

[tnelsonfla]

I somehow always forget those darn "thumb" nails and I quickly remember them at the shows. They get me every time. I now trim nails the week before a show and take clippers with me. :wolverine:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I like to keep all of my rabbits nails trimmed, for the above stated reasons, and also because they look tidier and better cared for. You'll notice that when raids are made on animals, one of the things they focus on is nails- be it dog or rabbit.

I trim my doe's nails when they are bred and about a week before they kindle. Bucks also get trims at least once a month. Youngsters that I am growing out as keepers get trims every couple of weeks, usually when I weigh them. I will periodically take a stroll through the bunnybarn and look at everybunny's nails and trim any that have been missed for whatever reason.

In addition to their standard cage cards, I have a small index card which I use to keep records of the dates they are weighed and have nail trims. It is interesting to note the difference in nail growth between rabbits- some of them need a higher frequency of trims than others which may be able to go for two months without significant growth.

 

[skysthelimit]

Well if you are showing, or are thinking that way, and you have a nail break off that you left too long, and it ends the show career of your rabbit, then you start to put a higher priority to nail cutting.

 

[owlsfriend]

Stella is an Edwena scissors claw!!!!

But what's the big deal with toenails at shows, anyway?...one off color toenail and it's DQed? That's craziness....take a point of maybe, since it's not "perfect" but throw the bun out?!?! That's too extreme.

 

[Random Rabbit]

Stella is an Edwena scissors claw!!!!

But what's the big deal with toenails at shows, anyway?...one off color toenail and it's DQed? That's craziness....take a point of maybe, since it's not "perfect" but throw the bun out?!?! That's too extreme.

I agree ! But the thinking is... an animal that might become a Grand Champion should be as "perfect" as possible...Visually. Mismatch and/or broken nails...detract from perfection... and are an 'easy out' for a judge. While a part of me agrees about mis-matched nails ( for most breeds) the broken toe nail is Not usually inherited ... so the animal would Still make a Good brood animal.

( and we also had an Edward Scissorpaw ! He made a mess of my arm !!!)

 

[luvabunny]

With english lops and their long ears, they are ALWAYS stepping on them. Since a scratch, mark or deformity is a loss of points, up to a possible DQ, my bunnies get trimmed every couple of weeks, especially their back feet.

Regarding the off color toenails, it has been my experience that feet and toenails are the first thing to show color variations in a cross bred rabbit. Lots of times, crossbreds will have white tips or even socks. Possibly a genetic ruling by ARBA to prevent such things. I don't know.

That being said, and having lots and lots of blue rabbits, blue is a color that seems to constantly have the possibility of throwing off color toenails. I don't know why, but it definitely is genetic.

The rule that gets me is the broken, bitten, or missing tail DQ. Who needs a tail, not the rabbits and not the butchers, and what in the world is the necessity of a completely straight one on the table? Sorry, got a little off topic here.

Yes, it sounds like the bunny is definitely in need of a trim. If you aren't comfortable, vets will do it fairly cheap.

 

[ZRabbits]

With english lops and their long ears, they are ALWAYS stepping on them. Since a scratch, mark or deformity is a loss of points, up to a possible DQ, my bunnies get trimmed every couple of weeks, especially their back feet.

Regarding the off color toenails, it has been my experience that feet and toenails are the first thing to show color variations in a cross bred rabbit. Lots of times, crossbreds will have white tips or even socks. Possibly a genetic ruling by ARBA to prevent such things. I don't know.

That being said, and having lots and lots of blue rabbits, blue is a color that seems to constantly have the possibility of throwing off color toenails. I don't know why, but it definitely is genetic.

The rule that gets me is the broken, bitten, or missing tail DQ. Who needs a tail, not the rabbits and not the butchers, and what in the world is the necessity of a completely straight one on the table? Sorry, got a little off topic here.

Yes, it sounds like the bunny is definitely in need of a trim. If you aren't comfortable, vets will do it fairly cheap.

I thought it was strange too, to DQ a rabbit over toe nail colors, but that's what I read too about cross breeds and what the ARBA is trying to prevent. Trying to get the "Pure" to be Best in Show.

Karen

 

[ladysown]

off coloured nails can mean as well that your solid coloured rabbit is actually a broken... (or so I've been told).

 

[skysthelimit]

So true all. I hate nails on dogs and rabbits, but I won't make the mistake of letting go too long again. I also realize the more often I cut the easier it gets for both of us.