Long sharp toenails are not only dangerous to you, but they are dangerous to your rabbit as well. Untrimmed toenails can get caught in the cage and break, grow improperly and sometimes get infected. This is why it's a must to keep them trimmed.
What you will need:
-Toenail/fingernail clippers
- I prefer the human kind
A long sleeved shirt
- to prevent scratches
-An assistant
- if you are inexperienced this makes things work a lot easer!
The first few times you clip the nails, you will probably want to have help available, since the rabbit will probably not be too happy about the clipping. Remember, rabbits are easily frightened of new things, but with patience they learn it doesn't hurt them, and become willing participants.
The most important thing to remember is that there is a vein that runs up the rabbit's nails. You will want to cut BELOW this vein for two reasons. First, the nail below the end of the vein has no nerve endings in it, and the rabbit will not feel you clip the nails. Secondly, if you cut into the vein, the rabbit's nail will bleed - sometimes quite heavily, but don't worry, your rabbit will be ok.
You will need to turn your rabbit onto it's back to do this properly. First of all, have your rabbit on a table facing you. Place your and on your rabbits shoulders with your thumb in front of it's ears. Pinch the base of the ears between your thumb and your hand. This will help to keep the rabbit still. Now, place your other hand on your rabbit's rump. Pull the rump towards you as you guide the head backwards - keeping a constant pressure on the ears. (This will take several tries - trust me.) Be careful not to pick your rabbit up by the ears - you can do some serious damage!
If this doesn't work - here is another method, but I don't like to use it:
Sit in a chair with your bunny between your legs, tummy up, head toward your knees. If you put their head lower than the rest of the body you can put the bunny in what's known as a "bunny trance". Be careful because they can snap out of this trance at any time.
Now that your rabbit is resting on its back, carefully place the nail clippers just below the vein (the pink area), and clip firmly. Now repeat the process for the remaining nails. Rabbits have 18 nails total: 4 on each back foot and 5 on each front foot. The fifth toenail, or dewclaw, can be found on the inside of the paw.