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Small Mammals · Travel & Boarding

What vaccination and paperwork proof does a Rex rabbit usually need for boarding?

Published October 29, 2026

The short answer

A Rex rabbit usually needs whatever vaccination proof the individual boarding facility asks for, because rabbit boarding requirements vary by facility and region, with no single universal vaccine mandate. Where RHDV2 circulates, some facilities expect a dated RHDV2 vaccination record, alongside identity details, emergency contacts and written consent for emergency care. For a Rex, add a dated coat and hock condition note, with photos, plus written flooring needs, so sore-hock risk is recorded before the stay. KinsLe Pet Passport keeps that vaccination record, condition note and handover together in one place for a Rex boarding check.

Start with the velvet coat and the hind feet

A Rex boarding file should begin with condition, not just vaccines. That short, dense, velvet-like coat is the breed's signature, and the Rex is also known for sore hocks, where the fur thins on the hind feet and the skin underneath becomes sore. A dated note made shortly before the stay, describing the coat, the fur cover on both hocks, and any redness already present, protects everyone. Photos taken in good light, or a brief vet note if the feet have been treated before, give boarding staff a baseline to compare against if they notice limping, reluctance to hop, or new soreness during the stay.

Vaccination proof depends on place and facility

There is no single universal rabbit vaccine mandate for boarding. Requirements vary by facility and by region, so the honest answer is to ask the specific boarder what it expects and confirm it before you book. RHDV2 vaccination exists, and some facilities expect a current RHDV2 record where that disease circulates, while others set different or additional asks based on local risk and their own policies. Whatever the facility names, bring the actual record showing the rabbit's name, what was given, and when, and check that it will still be in date for the whole stay rather than expiring mid-booking.

Put flooring and housing needs in writing

For a Rex, housing is paperwork, not small talk. Sore-hock risk rises on hard, rough, or wire surfaces, so ask what floor the pen has, whether there is a solid resting area and soft bedding, and whether you can supply a familiar mat from home. Write the agreed answer into the handover: solid floor or mat in place, bedding kept dry, and feet checked as part of daily handling. Note normal weight and activity too, because a Rex sitting hunched and still may be protecting sore feet, and staff can only spot that change if the booking form tells them what lively looks like for this rabbit.

The rest of the handover packet

Alongside vaccination and condition records, a Rex still needs identity that matches the rabbit in the carrier: name, breed, colour, sex, and a recent photo, plus microchip details if chipped. Add your contact details, an emergency contact who is not travelling, the vet you normally use, and written consent for the facility to seek emergency treatment. Name anyone else allowed to collect the rabbit. Complete the health section plainly, covering neutering, recent illness, appetite, droppings, measured food amounts, and any hay or handling preferences, and supply the usual food so the diet does not change abruptly during the stay.

Check before you book, not at drop-off

Most Rex boarding problems are discovered too late because the folder was assembled the night before travel. Ask about vaccination, flooring, and condition notes at enquiry stage, compare your vaccination record against the facility's answer the same day, and leave time for a vet visit if anything needs updating or if you want the hocks looked at before the stay. Photograph every page for your phone as a backup. When the coat baseline, the hock note, and the vaccination record travel as one set, KinsLe Pet Passport holds a Rex rabbit's boarding proof in a single packet that a facility can check quickly at drop-off and refer back to throughout the stay.

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