My californian has an appointment for a nail trim and tooth check tomorrow but it just dawned on me that she grew out of her harness that I bought her when she was the size of a dwarf. Oops.
What's the best way to restrain her? She claws tons.How to restrain a large rabbit at the vet?
Cover her eyes with a towel she will calm down a lot. The vet techs will help you hold her down. They won't want to get her too excitedHow to restrain a large rabbit at the vet?
Restraining a larger breed can be difficult. Definitely use a carrier when transporting your rabbit. They feel more secure than in a harness, sitting on your lap in the car. Besides, there are usually other animals at the vet that are extremely stressful to rabbits.
Are you familiar with the football hold? You hold the rabbit's body close to yours, with their head tucked under your arm (think or someone running for a touchdown - just don't spike it when you get there). This is the safest and easiest way to hold a rabbit while moving it from it's carrier to the exam table.
To check teeth, the rabbit is going to need to be restrained by holding the scruff firmly and the rabbit will be held on it's back. There should be a vet tech assisting, and they should be able to show you some pointers on handling a large and skittish rabbit.
Great job keeping up on the basic care - so many owners overlook teeth and nails. I would recommend handling your rabbit more frequently to get her to calm down - they need socialization like any other animal, and the more you handle her, the calmer she'll become. If you get her a little more relaxed about being handled, you should be able to trim her nails and check her teeth yourself in the future, and you won't have to worry about the vet visits.
Rabbits naturally go into a 'trance like state' when you simply place your hand right above it's head without touching them. Doing this can help you get her to stop moving for about a few seconds, and then I'd put your hand or a towel over her eyes, and that should calm her down just a little bit. If she keeps kicking and squirming you could also grab her gently by the nape of the neck (they have lots of loose skin there so it wont hurt her, and actually that's one way to pick her up) and just hold her still like that. Otherwise the vet will help you restrain her too.
good luck!
1)buy a new harness that fits
2)theres a way you can hold rabbits that restrains them pretty well. With one hand, you scoop under there bottom, and the other holds them under their front paws. http://www.geocities.com/lagomorphlounge鈥?/a>
scroll down on the page above until you see the part where it shows you how to handle a rabbit. You'll see a picture of what im talking about. If you hold them like that, you can keep them secure while clipping their nails. To take her to the vet, use a cat crate.
You don't. Restraining a rabbit is not a good idea. Don't hold her down, don't wrap her in a towel. If your vet or tech can't trim nails or look at her teeth without restraining her in a towel or holding her down, take her somewhere else.
Seriously, a 4H kid can do this without any trouble. A vet or tech should be able to, also. I've seen two rabbits break their backs when restrained and heard of many more cases of this happening when rabbits were put in those ';bunny bags'; or otherwise restrained. I don't even restrain when I tattoo them. They just sit free on my lap or table. It's not neccassary to restrain them and it's dangerous. Just hold her properly (the vet or tech should do this).
There are a few ways of doing nails. Laying the rabbit on my lap is my first option as it is the easiest. I tuck their ears in between my knees but I don't hold them there. That's just so they can feel that I've got them and they feel secure. They can pop up anytime they want. This prevents them from getting hurt. I trim back legs first, left to right (gotta disable the arsenal) and then front feet, left to right. Don't forget the dewclaws.
On such a large rabbit, laying her on your lap may be difficult because she may not fit so try the cradle hold or football hold. Rabit belly up, head in crook of arm or tucked under it, arm supporting back and bum. If she is really big, cradle with two arms and let someone else do the trimming.
Another option: on pregnant or older rabbits, I let them sit on the table, right next to my left side. I lift their front end with my left arm and trim with my right hand.
Cradle/football hold is good for checking teeth, too. Just hold her in the oposite direction with the body tucked under your arm and her head in your hands (belly up).
Ask your vet or tech to show you how to trim nails and check teeth yourself. This is not something you should have to pay for. OR you could just ask a 4H kid to do it for half the price that the vet charges. $10 is the going rate for kids to do nails here. You can give at least another $5 for scent glands, eye, teeth, and ear check. Kids like earning a little money and you'll be saving it.
Not sure I understand the part about the harness but take your rabbit to the vet in a carry cage or pet carrier. Bring a small towel to cover it up while in the waiting room if there is anyone else waiting. It will help keep your rabbit more calm.
P.S. Stonefield has got the right idea. Good advice. :)
It is not safe for her to be taken in a car or to the vets office without being in a carrier of sorts. I even seat belt my carriers into the car, so as not to distract driver, and also safety for rabbit.
If you do not have a carrier (I have had rabbits over 15 lbs, and you need a medium dog carrier for that-I reinforce them with nylon cable ties, too, so they do not separate)
You can make one by using a large sturdy box...of course, the rabbit cannot stay in there long, as they can easily chew through it. A slightly better and cheaper way is to get a large plastic tote container, which you can cut slits for ventilation in sides (using a steak knife or whatever) about an inch wide and maybe 2 inches apart...you do not want to weaken the container, but need to get good air flow through. The top is nice because it gives you a top opening carrier, which are easier anyway. It is a bit tricky to carry, but (put a towel or stiff piece of carpet inside for bunny traction) it is much safer, and less stressful for your rabbit to go into vet like that. make sure it is not going to sail around your car when you stop suddenly. Rabbits can die from stress, and you want to keep bun feeling safe when there are dogs and cats (predators) around at vets. The containers usually cost between 5-10$ at walmart. For more tips please read up on rabbit care etc in :
http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/r鈥?/a>
Hold the scruff of the neck (skin on the back of the neck like holding a cat) with one hand,,and the back legs above the 'knee' area with the other hand. Don't try to hold the back legs around the feet area,,,you'll end up bleeding, plus it just doesn't work. You have to get under the rump and get the back legs in the bend with one finger in between the legs. Hard to explain in words, but when you get it right you know as you have full control without stressing or hurting the bunny.
use a towel and keep her on her back. make sure her eyes are covered so she doesn't get too freaked out. rabbits can actually die of a heart attack if they get too stressed. no worries, your vet should know how to do this for you. good luck :)
you need to trance her by putting her on her back and gently petting her head. its magical. I honestly dont know why i got a thumbs down, i have rabbits and trancing is perfectly safe, and stress free. The rabbit will let you do anything to her without stress. Google it
restraining during her tooth check and nail trim is the vet's job! they deal with worse things than rabbits! to take your rabbit to the vet's put her in a pet carrier or some sort of box (with air holes).
Strap her down.
Problem solved.
a gun
try covering her eyes with ur hand. this calms the rabbit down. hope this helps. God Bless! ~Lucky
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