Senior from about six for a Rex
A Rex rabbit is generally considered a senior from around six years of age. The Rex is a substantial, well-muscled rabbit, instantly recognisable by its short, dense, velvet-plush coat that stands upright rather than lying flat. That build and size put the Rex in the middle of the rabbit ageing range: not as early as the giant breeds, not as late as the tiny dwarfs. Many Rex rabbits are still strong and sociable at six, so senior status here means shifting attention to the places age and this breed's particular anatomy meet, and above all, to the feet underneath that famous coat.
Why feet dominate senior Rex care
The Rex coat is shorter and sparser on the soles of the feet than the fur most breeds rely on as padding. Even young Rex rabbits have less cushioning between hock bone and floor, and a senior adds three aggravating factors: more weight if activity has dropped, stiffer joints that change how weight lands, and thinner skin. The result is the breed's signature senior problem, sore hocks, which begins as pink, hairless patches and can progress to cracked or infected skin if flooring and weight are not addressed. Prevention is mostly environmental: deep, soft bedding, mats over hard floors, no wire floors, short nails so the foot sits correctly, and honest weight control.
Other senior changes in a Rex
Beyond the feet, watch the usual ageing pattern expressed through a big, food-loving rabbit. Weight gain is common and quietly worsens both hocks and joints, while weight loss can signal dental trouble, since back teeth in an older Rex can develop painful points that only show as slower, pickier eating. The plush coat itself may thin and lose its spring, and a senior who grooms less can struggle to keep his bottom clean or reach caecotrophs. Movement changes count too: reluctance to hop across hard flooring may be sore feet rather than laziness, and it is worth checking the soles before assuming he has simply become a calmer old rabbit.
A senior Rex routine
Make a weekly hock check non-negotiable: lift each back foot gently, part what fur there is, and look for pinkness, hair loss, or broken skin, noting what you find. Weigh at the same time, because feet and weight tell one story together. Keep his living area single-level with the softest flooring you can manage in his resting spots, a low-entry litter tray, and hay and water placed so he does not have to cross hard ground repeatedly. At senior vet visits, ask specifically for feet, teeth, and weight to be assessed together, and raise any change in how willingly he moves across different surfaces.
Rex warning signs that need a vet
Broken, bleeding, or swollen hocks, limping, refusal to bear weight, or a Rex who stops eating all need prompt veterinary attention; foot wounds in a heavy senior can deepen quickly and pain anywhere will slow the gut. Drooling, dropping food, or unexplained weight loss also deserve a quick appointment for a dental look. Bring your hock and weight notes, because how long a patch has been developing shapes the treatment conversation. A KinsLe Pet Passport brings your Rex rabbit's foot checks, weight record, and dental notes together in one packet, giving every senior visit the history it needs.