A brown and white Rex rabbit

Rex Rabbit Insurance, Care and Health Advice

There are quite a few variations of the Rex rabbit. Coat variations include the Satin Rex and Rough Coated Rex. The different colour varieties include the Self Rex, Shaded, Rex, Tan Patterned Rex, Agouti Rex, amongst others. There are around 150 different colour variations… too many to mention! And last but not least the Miniature Rex, but that will be for another guide. All variations have that Rex trademark velvet-like coat.

When you do finally manage to narrow down your Rex rabbit breed, this is a pet rabbit that can make the perfect family pet. But there's still lots to know about this breed of rabbit, from their temperament to their care, you'll find it all here.

Rex Rabbit Facts

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Type
Standard
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Lifespan
6 - 8 years
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Size
Large
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Weight
3.4 - 4.1 kg
Everypaw's breed temperament icon
Temperament
Friendly, calm, inquisitive
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Exercise
2 hours 2x a day
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Grooming
Low maintenance

Is a Rex Right for Me?

The Rex rabbit is a sight to behold with their plush fur velvet coat, big eyes and upright ears. They come is lots of different colour and coat varieties, so plenty to choose from. This breed is not only popular because of their looks, but because of their lovely temperament too.

Rex rabbits are very docile and calm so tend to make great pets. Perfect for families of all ages, including those with small children. This breed is definitely for you if you’re after constant company and cuddles!

A brown Rex rabbit in a hutch

Life with a Rex Rabbit

Life with a Rex will be full of love and cuddles. They love people and are very affectionate, just make sure you leave plenty of room for them on the sofa. They’ll want plenty of attention and sofa time, so be prepared for a constant snuggle buddy.

Caring for Your Rex

Rabbits need plenty of high-quality fresh hay and grass to keep them happy and healthy. You can also feed fresh vegetables like carrots, sweetcorn, celery and broccoli. A diet of high quality hay, grass, leafy greens and veggies is perfect. If you want to also give them a commercial rabbit feed too be careful not to overfeed them.

Keep an eye on your rabbit’s weight and reduce amounts if needed. You’ll find recommended feeding guidelines on the feed packaging. Most importantly, your rabbit should always have a constant supply of hay and fresh water.

This breed has a distinctive short, dense, plush, velvety coat that doesn’t need brushing very often. A quick brush every now and then will be enough to keep your Rex rabbit fur looking shiny and healthy. Rabbits generally shed their coat in the spring and autumn, so some extra grooming time during these periods is a good idea. Grooming is a great opportunity for you and your bunny to build that special bond and to keep an eye out for any health problems.

Training rabbits isn’t as easy as training dogs or cats, but with some time and patience you can train your Rex to do all sorts! The Rex is an intelligent breed, so litter training shouldn’t take long, especially if you use their favourite treats as a reward. You could also have a go at training your rabbit to do other things too, like coming to call, playing fetch or even have a go at some bunny agility!

All bunny breeds need plenty of exercise to prevent boredom and health problems. Rabbits are prone to piling on the pounds, just like we are, so exercise is important to keep your rabbit fit and healthy. Exercise also helps to stop your bunny from getting bored which usually leads to cheeky and unruly behaviour.

Rabbits love to play with toys, so make sure your bunny has plenty to play with. Rex bunnies love to interact and play, so take time out during the day to have fun together.

If your rabbit lives indoors, they’ll get some exercise wandering around your house, but getting some exercise outdoors is important too. Let your Rex outdoors in a safe enclosure so they can have a good run around and play, and graze on some fresh grass for a couple of hours every day.

Two Rex rabbits playing on the grass

Rex Rabbit Insurance

The Rex is one loveable bunny, so it’s not a surprise you may be thinking about introducing one into your home. Before you do, it can be good to think about insuring your Rex. Everypaw’s Lifetime Rabbit Insurance can be there to help look after them with a range of cover levels to choose from. And for that extra peace of mind, every policy gives you unlimited access to RCVS qualified vets and vet nurses with Petcall.

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Common Rex Rabbit Health Problems by Vetstream

Luckily, the Rex doesn’t suffer from any specific congenital or hereditary diseases. However, all rabbits suffer from some conditions that can be easily prevented. Everypaw has joined up with veterinary experts Vetstream to explain some of them.

Heavy flea infestations can be life-threatening for rabbits, so check you rabbit regularly for any signs of fleas or itching and hair loss. Prevention is easy using a rabbit-safe treatment to reduce the risk of an infestation. Never use a cat and dog flea treatment for your rabbit as this can be fatal.

Ask your vet what treatment is best for your bunny. Also check your rabbit’s ears regularly for any signs of mites as these can be difficult to get rid of. If you notice scabs appearing inside your rabbit’s ear they should be checked over by your vet.

Rabbits have a very sensitive digestive tract which is why they need a continuous supply of hay and grass in their diet to keep it moving. If it stops moving or gets blocked, it’s called gastric stasis. There are many causes, but illness, pain or stress are common triggers.

If you notice your bunny isn’t eating as much, is less active, or they start producing small or fewer droppings, these could be signs of a problem. Stasis is really serious, so if you think your bunny might have a tummy problem, contact your vet straight away.

Myxomatosis or Myxy is a highly contagious disease caused by the myxoma virus. It’s spread by biting flies or fleas and is often fatal. The virus can also be spread by non-biting fleas, bedding and food. It’s usually seen in late summer, autumn and early winter.

There isn’t a cure for Myxy, but vaccination and flea treatments can help protect your bunny from this horrible condition.

This is a common viral disease and rabbits can be affected by two types, VHD1 and VHD2. VHD1 causing internal bleeding and is nearly always fatal. VHD2 isn’t as serious but can still cause serious illness. Signs of disease include anorexia, lethargy, being off-colour, or sudden and unexplained death.

Vaccination is essential for VHD. A combined Myxomatosis/VHD vaccine is available which protects rabbits against both conditions.

Quick Rex Rabbit Q&A

The Rex can live up to around 8 years old.

The Rex is slightly bigger than an average sized rabbit and weigh around 4 kg.

Yes! They love attention, love to play and generally love being around people.

All rabbits shed, but the Rex does shed less than most breeds due to their short, dense coat. They only need grooming occasionally, more so when they shed more in the spring and autumn.

Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Lapis – www.vetlexicon.com/treat/lapis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

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