Rex rabbit: the genetics behind its fur and preventing sore hocks
Petting a Rex rabbit for the first time is always a surprise: its fur is as soft as velvet, without the coarse guard hairs that cover other breeds. This unique texture isn’t a happy accident of selective breeding for looks — it’s the direct result of a well-identified genetic mutation. A study by Diribarne, Mata, Chantry-Darmon, Vaiman, Auvinet, Bouet, Deretz, Cribiu, de Rochambeau, Allain and Guérin, published in 2011 in PLoS ONE, identified a deletion in exon 9 of the LIPH gene as responsible for the rex phenotype in rabbits, causing the near-total absence of the long, stiff guard hairs in favour of the soft down-hair alone (study on Google Scholar). Find all our health pointers in the rabbit care and grooming section.
Why does this mutation affect the feet too?
In a standard rabbit, long guard hairs also cushion the underside of the feet against repeated contact with the ground. Deprived of that protection by the LIPH mutation, a Rex rests its hindquarters on far more exposed skin, a point already noted on the Rex breed profile.
What flooring should a Rex have?
A fine-mesh non-slip mat, soft bedding refreshed often, and no bare wire flooring whatsoever all help limit wear on this fragile skin. Resting spots deserve particular attention, since that's where the rabbit spends most of its weight sitting still.
How should its fur be inspected and cared for?
A soft grooming mitt, used once or twice a week, is enough for the velvety coat; vigorous brushing should be avoided, as it risks pulling out this already-short down-hair. Use each session to gently turn each foot over and check for redness or an early callus forming under the heels.
- Origin: a deletion in the LIPH gene removes most of the protective guard hairs.
- Consequence: more exposed foot pads, predisposed to sore hocks.
- Suitable flooring: soft bedding, non-slip mats, never bare wire.
- Grooming: a gentle touch, never vigorous brushing on this fragile down-hair.
With the right flooring and regular checks, most Rex rabbits go through life without ever developing a foot lesion despite this genetic predisposition.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Rex rabbits develop sore hocks?
No, this genetic predisposition raises the risk but doesn’t make it inevitable: suitable flooring is enough to protect the vast majority of individuals.
Should Rex breeds be avoided on tiled floors?
Not necessarily, as long as thick mats and generous bedding are added to the rabbit’s usual resting spots.
Does the LIPH mutation cause anything beyond the coat?
The landmark study links it specifically to hair structure; it’s the resulting lack of mechanical protection that then indirectly explains the fragility of the feet.
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Rabbits universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.