In the wild, rabbits keep their nails short by digging, running, and scratching just about everything in their natural habitat. Have you seen any of these behaviors in your own pet rabbits? If so, they may be showing signs that you need to help them trim their nails!
While a veterinarian can quickly and expertly cut your rabbit’s nails, it’s unlikely that you’ll want to pay for an optional vet visit every month or two. Instead, by learning how to trim your rabbit’s nails at home, you can save time and money while keeping your rabbit happy and healthy.
But how can you learn to trim your rabbit’s nails? Furthermore, which clippers are the best for the job?
In this article, we’ll be sharing extensively researched reviews of our top 10 choices for rabbit nail clippers.
A Quick Look at our Favorites of 2024:
| Image | Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
|
|
Hertzko Angled Blade |
|
Check Price |
Best Value
|
|
H&H Pets |
|
Check Price |
Premium Choice
|
|
Simply Pets |
|
Check Price |
|
Harzara Professional |
|
Check Price | |
|
Shiny Pet |
|
Check Price |
The 10 Best Rabbit Nail Clippers:
1. Hertzko Angled Rabbit Nail Clipper – Best Overall
No other nail clipper that we tested was quite as easy to use as the Hertzko Angled Blade Nail Clipper. We attribute that primarily to its exceptionally ergonomic design, which includes clear markings on both blades to help you line up a perfect cut.
Furthermore, the Hertzko’s razor-sharp stainless-steel blades are built to last — an important quality, as it’s easier to buy a new pair of nail clippers than to try and sharpen a dull set. Add a soft and anti-slip rubberized grip to the equation, and it’s easy to see why the Hertzko nail clippers deserve our number one spot.
Perhaps the only downside of these wonderfully effective clippers is their cost. Coming in on the upper end of the price range for rabbit nail clippers, they’re a significant investment, but one that is justified by their durability and effectiveness.
All in all, we think that this is the best overall rabbit nail clipper this year.
2. H&H Pets Rabbit Nail Clippers – Best Value
For rabbit owners on a budget, the H&H Pets Nail Clippers may very well be the best rabbit nail clippers for the money. Displaying a great combination of sharpness, durability, and ease of use, they’re an excellent budget-priced alternative to our top pick.
Designed specifically for small animals, these lightweight and ergonomic scissors feature non-slip rubberized grips for comfort and easy clipping. Their stainless-steel blades come pre-sharpened and tend to hold an edge very well.
Their only real downside? You’ll also need fairly small hands to use them comfortably. The small thumb and finger holes aren’t too friendly for anyone with larger or meatier hands.
3. Simply Pets Nail Clippers for Rabbits – Premium Choice
Not many products for animal grooming can boast having been designed by veterinarians — but these nail clippers from Simply Pets were created by two licensed vets! Originally intended for use with cats, they’re a fantastic option for rabbits as well due to their streamlined design and extra-sharp blades.
It’s clear just from looking at these nail clippers that they were designed for efficiency, comfort, and durability. Whereas other nail trimmers feature extraneous padding or thin metal, the Simply Pets trimmers are a sleek and minimal tool. Thick stainless steel and rubberized non-slip grips make these scissors the complete package as rabbit nail clippers.
Of course, these premium features also come at a premium price. Be prepared to lay down a little extra cash to make these nail clippers part of your rabbit’s grooming routine.
4. Harzara Professional Bunny Nail Clippers
Like our top pick, the Harzara Professional Pet Nail Clippers feature comfortable rubberized grips and sharp stainless-steel blades —but the Harzara is designed with straight blades, rather than angled. This makes them a great alternative for anyone who wants comfortable, high-quality clippers but does not enjoy the angled blade style.
One of the nicest features of the Harzara clippers is their extra-large finger holes. Many small animal nail clippers seem to be designed with small hands in mind, so it is refreshing to see an option that is suitable for people of all sizes.
The only thing we wish was a bit better is the quality of their sharpening. While the blades are made of stainless steel, the pair we tested were not evenly sharpened across their entire length.
5. Shiny Pet 04 Rabbit Nail Clippers
The Shiny Pet Nail Clippers are small clippers for small pets — and are perfect for use by people with small hands! The professional quality razor-sharp blades are mounted on non-slip rubberized grips, making them both safe and easy to use. Backed by a lifetime money-back guarantee, they’re a good alternative to the previous options on our list.
Available in either flat or angled blade styles, you can choose which type is most comfortable for you and your rabbit. That being said, these nail clippers are quite small — measuring just 2.6 inches wide at the widest point of the handles. People with small hands will find them quite comfortable to use, while anyone with bigger fingers will be entirely unable to use them.
6. Poodle Pet Bunny Nail Trimmers
The Poodle Pet Nail Trimmer might be the most cautious option you can choose for trimming your rabbit’s nails. A specialized blade design makes these “safety scissors” less likely to cut into the quick — the sensitive part of your rabbit’s digit that the nail grows from. Combine that with non-slip grips and sharp stainless-steel blades, and you can rest assured that your rabbit’s nail trimming will proceed without incident.
Like many nail clippers designed for small pets, the Poodle Pet Nail Trimmer is also quite small. Intended to be operated with just one finger and your thumb, they will feel awkward and cumbersome in larger hands. These are recommended for smaller users — those with larger hands should choose one of our top picks instead.
7. Bepets Nail Clippers
Less expensive than even our “best value” pick above, Bepets Nail Clippers offer acceptable clipping at rock-bottom prices. While the blades seem to vary in sharpness from set to set, the pair of clippers that we tested was more than capable of trimming nails without a problem. This should come as no surprise, as the stainless-steel blades are backed up by a comfortable handle design that makes it easy to apply the required pressure for trimming.
The handles of Bepets Nail Clippers are advertised as rubberized, but we didn’t find them to be as non-slip as many other products in our review. If you plan on buying these, just be sure to keep your hands clean and dry while trimming your rabbit’s nails.
It’s also worth noting that these clippers come with a 100% money-back guarantee. Even if they aren’t perfectly sharp on the first try, you can send them back and try again with a replacement pair.
8. Kaytee Small Animal Pro-Nail Trimmer
Small, inexpensive, and easy to use, the Kaytee Small Animal Pro-Nail Trimmer may do in a pinch but is far from the best rabbit nail clipper we tested. Measuring just four inches long, they’re among the shortest of all nail clippers in our review — and the sharpest.
Despite the fact that we aren’t huge fans of the Kaytee clippers, we must admit that the pair we tried were absolutely razor-sharp. That sharpness, however, seems to go to waste when combined with handles that are neither comfortable nor non-slip.
As another incredibly inexpensive option for trimming your rabbit’s nails, the Kaytee will get the job done — but there are better clippers out there if you’re willing to spend even a little bit more.
9. Pet Republique Nail Clipper
As the only clippers in our review featuring a half-moon blade design, we had high hopes for the Pet Republique Nail Clipper. After taking one glance at the specifications, they seem to be a great option for trimming your rabbit’s nails; they’ve got sharp stainless-steel blades, ergonomic non-slip handles, and a compact design for easy maneuvering. Unfortunately, they’re just not a great value in comparison to other clippers on our list.
Sold at a higher price than most options on our list, the Pet Republique clippers just don’t hold up to their added cost. So, while they are comfortable and easy to use, and feature sharp blades for painless trimming, there are just too many other good options available at a lower price for us to wholeheartedly recommend the Pet Republique Nail Clipper.
10. Ware Groom-N-Kit
All-in-one kits are always a temptation for first-time pet owners. After all, wouldn’t it be nice to get every grooming tool you need in one convenient and inexpensive package?
While the idea is great in theory, the actuality will rarely live up to your hopes and expectations. More often a home for poorly made tools that couldn’t sell on their own, variety packs like the Ware Groom-N-Kit are destined to disappoint. The included nail clippers are neither sharp enough to safely trim your rabbit’s nails, nor are they large enough for anyone besides a small child to attempt using.
In short, these nail clippers are not appropriate for trimming your rabbit’s nails. Choose another option from our reviews.
Buyer’s Guide
Before you choose a set of nail clippers for your rabbit, we recommend reading through our tips and advice on how to find the best ones for your needs.
Should You Clip Your Rabbit’s Nails, or Let Your Veterinarian Do It?
This is the million-dollar question when it comes to trimming your rabbit’s nails. Can you learn to safely trim your rabbit’s nails at home? Or is it a task that’s best left to veterinarians and professional groomers? With the average rabbit needing its nails clipped once every 4 to 6 weeks, costs can quickly add up for your rabbit’s grooming.
Perhaps the best way, as recommended by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, is to have your vet show you the safest way to trim your rabbit’s nails. With a little bit of professional guidance and the proper technique, anyone can learn to keep their rabbit’s claws safely trimmed to a manageable level.
How to Choose the Best Nail Clippers for Your Rabbit
Three things separate great nail clippers from ones that are just okay:
- Non-slip grips keep your scissors exactly where you need them, without any sliding or repositioning necessary. Cheaply made nail clippers will often lack this feature and can be the cause of painful accidents.
- Sharp blades may be the most essential element of nail clippers, as without them you’ll be more prone to chipping or cracking your rabbit’s nails.
- Durable materials and construction will keep your nail clippers in one piece, even while you apply the pressure necessary to cut your rabbit’s nails.
Types of Nail Clippers
Nail clippers for pets large and small come in three main varieties:
- Scissor style clippers work exactly as their name implies. Because they cut from both sides, they are better for rabbits such as the giant breeds, with thick and tough nails.
- Guillotine clippers cut with a single blade pushed across an opening, making them a quick and useful option for small and fidgety rabbits.
- Grinders have been advertised for use on both large and small pets, but their high-speed vibration and unpleasant noise make them unsuitable for use with rabbits.
How to Use Rabbit Nail Clippers
While no video can replace the in-person guidance that your vet can give, this tutorial from Howcast can serve as an excellent refresher for how to trim your rabbit’s nails:
Conclusion
No other nail clipper in our reviews could beat the Hertzko Angled Blade Nail Clipper’s ease of use and outstanding performance. The razor-sharp blades made cutting our rabbit’s nails quick and painless, while the angled design kept us from straining our wrists to do so. We give it our highest recommendation as a rabbit nail clipper.
Significantly less expensive, the H&H Pets Nail Clippers are a suitable substitute for our number one pick. While they lack the angled head that makes our top pick so convenient to use, they’re still especially sharp and worked well for trimming our bunny’s claws.
Does one pair of nail clippers from our list stand out as the best for your bunny? We hope this guide has given you all the information you need to find the best nail clippers for your rabbit. Best of luck with all the bunny manicures in your future!
Featured Image Credit: SOLOVEVA ANASTASIIA, Shutterstock
