11/08/2025
We understand that conversations about CPR and DNR are never easy. When your pet is admitted for surgery, you’ll be asked to review and sign our CPR consent form as part of their surgical paperwork.
A heartfelt thank-you to Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic for helping explain CPR and DNR options to pet parents and supporting informed, compassionate care. ❤️🐾
Let's talk about something really uncomfortable today. When we admit any patient to our clinic, we always ask about CPR status. Talk about a conversation that is tough to have. Not only are most people already extremely stressed, emotional, and upset on SO many levels... and then we have to bring up an actual discussion of what we would do if your pet's heart stopped beating or they stopped breathing.
Like most uncomfortable discussions, this is very important to be frank and clear . We are an emergency room. Most patients being admitted to our clinic are there for a reason. Even healthy dogs going under sedation CAN have complications.
Let's talk about what CPR means.
CPR or or cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure that is performed when a patient stops breathing or the heart beat stops. In veterinary medicine, there is a standard called the RECOVER initiative. This means helping the patient by doing thoracic compressions. The way to do these compressions are different based on the SHAPE of the chest. This means that chest compressions for IDEAL blood flow in a cat vs German Shephard vs English Bull dog are different locations. This also means breathing for the patient by placing a tube down t heir trachea or wind pipe. We hook up monitoring devices to check for cardiac eletrical activity and rhythm, checking oxygenation levels and CO2 levels. We give emergency medications. In severely aggressive cases, open chest compression/massage.
Although we do our best to train, practice identifying risk indicators, and practice CPR, we have a really poor recovery rate in veterinary medicine. The majority of patients will not regain a heart beat or spontaneous breathing and the majority of patients will attempt to die again within 24 hours. Patients that are arresting due to drug complications from anesthesia CAN do well once the drug is reversed or an antidote is given.
It takes at minimum 3 people and ideally 5 people to RUN an effective code. This means that if this occurs in the middle of the night, 100% of our staff may be working on ONE patient.
DNR or Do Not Resuscitate means that if your pet's heart rate is slowing or their breathing is slowing, that we do not intervene. Sometimes we will call you to ask permission to help them pass peacefully by giving them an anesthetic agent and overdose of a sedative.
The other awkward thing to talk about is COST of medical interventions. Unlike in human hospitals where insurance and governmental assistance will help with COST of care, we do not have an alternative party who will pay for medical bills in veterinary medicine. This means, that although there is a poor success rate associated with CPR, that we still have to cover the costs. On average CPR can cost several hundred dollars per 15 minutes due to the intensity of care needed.
This is not something anyone WANTS to think about... however it is a discussion that is best had BEFORE it is needed. We don't want to call you as your pet is dying to ask. you this questions. If you have a pet going under anesthesia or an elderly pet, it might be a discussion you want to have with your family when it's a hypothetical and no emotions are involved. We are always happy to discuss this options IF your pet is hospitalized as well to discuss the pros and cons of each option. It is unfortunately a discussion we have in our clinic, every single day. If we can bring up these things AHEAD of time, maybe we can take away one shock or upset. If we can ease your stress, then we've done something positive. It is not a fun discussion but something we encourage you to think about as your pet gets older.
https://recoverinitiative.org/2024-guidelines/
