Sensitivity in back legs

[MATH]

-Location: New England
- Description (Breed-unknown (possibly some Flemish, weight- 8lbs
- Age: 2
- spayed/neutered?: no
- Notes on Fecal and Urinary Output
- are the bunny's poops and pees normal? -yes
- When did they last use their litterbox? -recently
- Any unusual behavior? -no
- Medical History -- has s/he been to the vet or been sick before? one bout of GI Stasis (mild)
- Diet - what does your bunny eat?- morning: 1 cup of dark green veggies and 1/4 cup of pellets, 2 cups of veggies at night. free choice hay/water
- when and what did s/he eat last? -just now
- movement - any unusual movements?- lots of stretching
-Is s/he hopping normally? -yes
- any weight loss? -no
- are there any plants, chocolate or other substances within reach? -no
- has the rabbit been outdoors? -no

I just went to cut Harvey's nails. Picked up, did his front nails. He was perfectly fine. Moved on to the back legs... flipped out. Even touching his back foot made him twitch to the point I had to let him go. I tried to cut the nails a few more times, but eventually I felt so bad I let him go. His nails are super long right now. About 2 months worth of growth (I know I'm a BAD mom), but because this happened last time I tried to cut his nails. I thought maybe my clippers were to mild so when I lost them I got stronger ones (I found the same ones at the petstore. The old ones were made for ferrets...) Anyways, it doesn't seem normal for Harvey to be so sensitive by just touching his back foot.

Maybe he just is? So what do I do about cutting his nails?
Or could there be a problem with this back legs? I sort of doubt this sense he hops around like a maniac...

Any suggestions, would be great. Sorry if this shouldn't be in the infirmary. Thought it might be medical.

Oh I should add... When I clip nails I wrap him in a towel to make him feel snug. Place him on my lap, tip back his head to put him the trance like step. Hold his head with one hand, clip with the other.

 

[pamnock]

Some rabbits are very touch about their back legs. Try wrapping him in a towel and holding him firmly on your lap, close to your body so he can't kick out.

 

[Maureen Las]

Also you may want to try to get a 2nd person to help you do it or got to a rabbit knowledgeable vet and have them show you how to do it and also help you do it.
What you are describing sounds normal to me.

I have had rabbits since the early 90"s and when I cut nails aloneISTILL have problems and find it difficult.

hee is some info from the library

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12075&forum_id=17

 

[jamesedwardwaller]

MATH wrote:

-Location: New England
- Description (Breed-unknown (possibly some Flemish, weight- 8lbs
- Age: 2
- spayed/neutered?: no
- Notes on Fecal and Urinary Output
- are the bunny's poops and pees normal? -yes
- When did they last use their litterbox? -recently
- Any unusual behavior? -no
- Medical History -- has s/he been to the vet or been sick before? one bout of GI Stasis (mild)
- Diet - what does your bunny eat?- morning: 1 cup of dark green veggies and 1/4 cup of pellets, 2 cups of veggies at night. free choice hay/water
- when and what did s/he eat last? -just now
- movement - any unusual movements?- lots of stretching
-Is s/he hopping normally? -yes
- any weight loss? -no
- are there any plants, chocolate or other substances within reach? -no
- has the rabbit been outdoors? -no

I just went to cut Harvey's nails. Picked up, did his front nails. He was perfectly fine. Moved on to the back legs... flipped out. Even touching his back foot made him twitch to the point I had to let him go. I tried to cut the nails a few more times, but eventually I felt so bad I let him go. His nails are super long right now. About 2 months worth of growth (I know I'm a BAD mom), but because this happened last time I tried to cut his nails. I thought maybe my clippers were to mild so when I lost them I got stronger ones (I found the same ones at the petstore. The old ones were made for ferrets...) Anyways, it doesn't seem normal for Harvey to be so sensitive by just touching his back foot.

Maybe he just is? So what do I do about cutting his nails?
Or could there be a problem with this back legs? I sort of doubt this sense he hops around like a maniac...

Any suggestions, would be great. Sorry if this shouldn't be in the infirmary. Thought it might be medical.

Oh I should add... When I clip nails I wrap him in a towel to make him feel snug. Place him on my lap, tip back his head to put him the trance like step. Hold his head with one hand, clip with the other.

i have-big- 10# girls-(havana mix)georgeous,,i just hold them like a football,,seems to work/ok/for trimming,,unless twisted//curved nails are predominate.//.actually rabbits do tend to trim their own nails,,the only problem long nail present is getting ripped off,,which allows profuse bleeding and unnecessary pain,,,the trimmers i use are actually for a medium dog,,though it is said human trimmers work too...keep the flour handy for little blood spot,,definately don,t trim more than quarter inch,,even that can get you into trouble....sincerely james waller:waves.spinal/leg injury can occur if there is twisting,jumping,falling,,perhaps she doesn,t like the operation...??

 

[MATH]

The problem is I don't have anyone else to help me. I can't go to vet once a month to have his nails clipped. Is there a better way to hold him?

 

[Maureen Las]

You can wrap him in a towel like a burrito

Did you read the library articles; there are a lot of different suggestions in there. ?

I would advise going to your vet just 1 time to have him demonstrate the proper way to cut nails or stop in a shelter or humane society that houses rabbits and possibly a staff member can show you on one of their rabbits

this video demonstrates a vet with a really docile rabbit so not sure how it will help

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obFFyGlaEIQ&feature=related]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obFFyGlaEIQ&feature=related[/ame]
another one

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igEefJtdQdU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igEefJtdQdU[/ame]


the bunny burrito

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3okPKg9Fc8&feature=related]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3okPKg9Fc8&feature=related[/ame]

This video is good because the woman is sitting down andI think that is easier.
sitting down ( but I would put the rabbit in a burrito)
if you are uncomfortable don't try to do it alone.

 

[tonyshuman]

The Fast Up On Rabbit Care video on cutting nails has helped me with back legs on sensitive bunnies that like to keep their back feet on the ground. Not all bunnies prefer to have their back feet down, though.