Practicalities of CPR

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 3sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 1 week, 3 days ago by mia.

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- 08/08/2026 at 12:19 PM
  mia
  Participant
  621 posts
  Went to the vet today for a drop off and was presented with a CPR consent form, which is now part of their new process. This was just a drop off appointment for a check up (bun had teeth issues; first experience of a bun in 15yrs that needs trimming) and not for surgery. Also had to add patient’s friends since they went with him. I blindly signed the form since all buns are young and healthy but then wondered if I should have.
  
  Wanted to see if anyone had information on pros and cons of CPR in rabbits. I have heard many horror stories from healthcare professional in regards to humans and I have witnessed it for cats as I volunteer at a cat clinic. Rabbits are much more fragile. Is the rate of broken bones higher or is CPR done differently for rabbits? Rabbits seem to have a much quicker healing so do they have better QOL after CPR?
- 08/08/2026 at 12:41 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17263 posts
  CPR success rates are pretty low for small animals. According to this study, the success rate is lower than that of dogs and cats. Compressions are done differently for small animals because their bodies are so small and anatomy different from humans.
  
  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5627337/
- 08/12/2026 at 6:23 AM
  GlennTheLionhead
  Participant
  397 posts
  I don’t know any specifics on CPR in small animals or any animals for that matter, but one of my bunnies did successfully have CPR. She unfortunately was helped over the rainbow bridge later that day once we realised the issue was beyond treatment. But I thought I would chime in to say that it did work for our bunny on that day.
  - 08/18/2026 at 6:07 PM
    mia
    Participant
    621 posts
    Was you bun in office already being seen by vet when arrest happened?
    
    The success rates for anesthesia is ~46% in one study and theory is that when bun is already actively monitored, the success rate is much better. I think this just goes in line with how quickly a bun can deteriorate.
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