Do-not-resuscitate orders: deciding on CPR at admission
13-year-old dog with splenic haemangiosarcoma and pulmonary metastases admitted for haemoabdomen. The owner wants it stabilised so they can say goodbye at home.
What is the most appropriate approach regarding CPR?
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A. Do not raise it at admission so as not to distress the owner, and decide if arrest occurs
At the moment of arrest there is no time to contact the owner or deliberate; indecision delays CPR or leads to unwanted resuscitation.
B. Discuss it at admission, explaining the prognosis, and record the owner's decision (CPR yes or no) in the record and on the kennel
Correct. The resuscitation status of every hospitalised patient should be agreed with the owner after explaining the prognosis and be visible to the whole team. With terminal disease, a do-not-resuscitate order is a reasonable option.
C. Always perform CPR on any hospitalised patient unless euthanasia is scheduled
Performing CPR by default without consulting in a terminally ill patient may prolong suffering and contradict the owner's wishes.
D. Let the veterinary team decide without consulting the owner, based on the prognosis
The vet informs and advises, but the decision belongs to the owner, who also bears the cost and the consequences.
lightbulb Key takeaway
Ask about and record resuscitation status at admission: CPR or do-not-resuscitate (and, if relevant, whether open-chest CPR would be accepted). Mark it clearly on the kennel and in the record so any team member can act without hesitation.
References: RECOVER clinical guidelines for veterinary CPR (2012)
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Updated: October 31, 2026 · Educational content for veterinary professionals. It does not replace current clinical guidelines or the judgement of the attending veterinarian.