It should recover. Pruning helps Clematis, it doesn't hurt them.

I have had slugs and earwigs eat them to almost nothing like that. No deer or rabbits possible at my house.

Perhaps a chicken wire cage to protect them?

We bought dark green vinyl-coated chicken wire at Menards's. It's 2' high but DH cut it in half to 1' high & put it around the base of our clems in a circle, oval, or rectangle. Whatever shape you want based on available space, it's flexible.
The green blends in nicely with the foilage. We had used plain chicken wire (cheaper) but it rusted (& the ends scratched our hands more easily) so we switched to the vinyl coated wire and really like it.
Sorry about the rabbits...we battle them also.
Marlene

Thanks for the encouragement and suggestions. I think until I get to the hardware store to buy some sort of wire - we live in the boonies - I am going out every night to cover them with large buckets. Between the bunnies and the deer, I'm constantly trying to think of things to outwit them.
thanks again,
Jacquie