The short answer for a Rex rabbit
A Rex rabbit's nails are trimmed safely by extending each toe through that short plush coat, clipping the curved tip in small slices, and stopping well short of the quick. The Rex is a medium-sized breed famous for velvet fur, and its nails are unremarkable in themselves; what changes the job is the breed's skin and feet. Rex rabbits have delicate skin and less protective padding under the hind feet than many breeds, so handling must be gentle and the feet themselves deserve inspection during every trim. Eighteen nails need doing, five on each front paw including dewclaws and four on each hind paw.
Rex feet deserve a look before the clippers
Run a thumb along the underside of each Rex foot before you start clipping, feeling for thin fur, redness, or sore patches on the hocks. A rabbit already sore underfoot will understandably resist having that foot held, and knowing beforehand lets you work around the tender side and mention it at the next vet visit. The short Rex coat at least makes nails easy to see, and pale nails show the pink quick clearly. On dark nails, proceed by slivers and read the cut surface, stopping when the centre softens in colour from white towards grey.
A padded setup for a Rex trim
Settle this rabbit on a thick folded towel or padded mat, because a Rex's hind feet should not press and drag across a hard tabletop while he is repositioned. Keep his body low and supported, one hand resting calmly over his back, and bring each paw to the clippers rather than hauling the leg out at an angle. Sharp, well-maintained small-animal clippers matter for this breed: a dull blade crushes the nail and sends a jolt through a sensitive foot. Have styptic powder ready, and plan the session for when the rabbit is naturally drowsy rather than at his most energetic hour.
Clipping cleanly, paw by paw
Take the curved point off each Rex nail first, then one further small slice only if the cut face still looks dry and pale at its centre. Remember the dewclaw on each front leg, sitting higher and easily skipped even in this short coat. On the hind feet, extend the toes gently backwards and check between them for trapped debris as you work. If the rabbit flinches repeatedly on one particular foot, stop and look closely at that foot rather than pressing on, since flinching on a Rex often reports soreness rather than naughtiness.
When a Rex nail or foot needs more than home care
If you nick the quick, press the tip into styptic powder or cornstarch and keep the rabbit on clean padding until it seals, checking later that no blood has been walked across the enclosure floor. Sore, bald, or broken skin on the hocks, a swollen toe, a torn nail, or a Rex who starts favouring one foot afterwards all call for a vet rather than home treatment, because foot problems in this breed worsen quietly under that dense coat. Bleeding that will not settle with pressure is likewise a vet matter. Note which foot caused concern so it is examined first at the appointment.
Building foot checks into the Rex routine
Look at a Rex rabbit's nails every three to four weeks, pairing the trim with the underfoot check this breed genuinely needs more often than most. Rex rabbits on hard or wire flooring wear unevenly and stress their feet, so soft resting surfaces and timely trims work together. Judge nail length with the toe extended, and never let a tidy-looking short coat convince you the nails beneath are short too. Assigning the combined nail-and-foot check in KinsLe through Care Teams, with each completion and foot note recorded, gives this Rex a care history the whole household and any helper can follow.