What Kind Of Nail Clippers Are Best For Rabbits?
How often have you come home to a dirty, wet rabbit and thought that it’s no wonder these creatures can get sick so quickly? To avoid a nasty case of the doldrums or worse, you’ll need to regularly clean up after your bunny. But how can you trim the nails of one of these fuzzy animals when they don’t let you near them with clippers? With this handy guide! We’ll share our top nail clippers for rabbits and their prices. That way, no matter which type of animal you’re responsible for, you’ll be prepared to keep it healthy and clean (or at least as clean as a rabbit can be).
For this article, we’ll focus on rabbits. We’ll also assume that you’ve already decided to get yourself a pair of nail clippers for your companion animal. Most pet shops will have them; you might even be lucky to find one in your local supermarket! But if not – no worries! Tons of websites supply rabbit toys and accessories. That includes bike parts, safety equipment, and fun toys for the kids.
When it comes to nail clippers, there are two different types: manual and electric. Manual clippers are ideal for rabbits that prefer to remain somewhat passive during nail trimming. If you’re starting your rabbit-care journey and want a tool that won’t intimidate the animal, this clipper is for you.
On the other hand, the electric option is what you’ll need if your furry friend shows too much resistance to being manhandled by humans. It’s a bit like dealing with a wild animal – you can’t do it at will, and if you rush your rabbit into the grooming process, it might bite or scratch. So we’d recommend the electric clippers as a last resort option – but save it for situations where you need to trim the claws of an aggressive rabbit.
If you decide to go manual, you’ll need to buy some nail clippers and get them sharpened up. If the clipper is dull too often, the blades will need more weight to cut through long nails. That will mean your rabbit will have to go without a trim for longer, which defeats the purpose of having the clipper in the first place.
Once you’ve bought your clippers and gotten them sharpened, it’s time to decide which type of nail clippers for rabbits you should buy. Do you want to go for a cheap pair that does the job, or be sure that your pet isn’t going to have any problems with them? Here’s everything you need to know about what kind of nail clippers are best for rabbits and their prices.
We first need to discuss what type of nail length you should expect from your rabbit. Rabbits have equally long nails on all four feet. They are about 1 inch long at their base and grow up to 1/4 inch long. These nails will be curved, so instead of flat, they start thick in the middle and grow thinner as they approach the outer edge.
To give you an idea of what this looks like, we’ve included a chart that shows the nail length expected from various-sized rabbits. You’ll want to use a ruler to get the measurements as accurate as possible. If your rabbit’s nails are longer than those listed on this chart (they often will be), then you should trim them down with clippers rather than waiting for them to wear down naturally.
That said, you’ll need to do some research if you need help trim rabbit claws with clippers. If you’re still learning how to give your critter a proper manicure, you can use video tutorials like this one:
Regarding the different types of nail clippers for rabbits, let’s take a look at them individually. First up are the scissors style. These clippers come in two pieces that pivot around one another.
The nails will be inserted into the hole at the base of the handles, and as you close the blades around them, they’ll snap off. This style of nail clipper is excellent for people who need more confidence in their handling skills, and you can get them at a pretty good price.
The second type of clippers we want to discuss is the guillotine style. These work similarly to the scissors style, but the blades do not separate from the handles. Instead, they stay connected until you press down on them to cut the nail beds. This means you’ll have to be able to deal with your rabbit’s resistance no matter what – which means it’s best if you have enough experience dealing with animals before making this purchase.
If you’re still learning how to groom your rabbit (and we recommend you do since these little animals need care just like any other), then the guillotine clippers could be better. But if your rabbit is good enough with you to let you cut her nails from time to time, then this is the way to go. These clippers are accessible for experienced owners but can be challenging for first-timers. They’re better at dealing with resistant rabbits because of how much force they take before they cut, which can scare some critters into submission.
The last type of nail clippers we want to discuss is called scissors style. This is the most popular type of clippers for rabbits, and they have a large community of users. They’re easy to use and very effective, which is why they’ve been around so long. If you’re looking to introduce yourself to the world of rabbit care, you can’t go wrong with scissors-style nail clippers.
All the nails are cut at once rather than in stages (as with guillotine-style clippers), so you’ll have to be ready to deal with your rabbit hurting herself as soon as she sees you pull out the clippers. You’ll also need to be able to handle your rabbit as she attempts a few times to pull away from you.
Conclusion.
If you still need to figure out which type of rabbit clippers to use, watch this video of a rabbit’s life being upended. That’ll give you an idea of what these tools do with your pet if you purchase them anyway.