Which indicators determine when CPR should be stopped in a canine patient?

• A. Return of spontaneous circulation, obvious death with no signs of life, or directed by veterinary professionals or exhausted resources
• B. Dogs wagging tail
• C. Only when owner arrives
• D. After 2 minutes regardless

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is knowing when to stop CPR in a canine patient. Stop criteria are clear and based on the dog's response and prognosis: if spontaneous circulation returns, if there are obvious signs of death with no signs of life, or if veterinary professionals determine termination or resources are exhausted.

Returning to spontaneous circulation means the heart and effective blood flow have resumed on their own, so ongoing chest compressions and ventilation are no longer needed. If there are obvious signs of death—no heartbeat, no breathing, unresponsive, and other signs that life is not recoverable—continuing CPR is not beneficial. Finally, the team may decide to stop if professionals determine the chances of recovery are extremely poor or if resources and responder safety limit further efforts.

Wagging a dog’s tail indicates life, so CPR would not be stopped for that. The owner arriving is not a medical termination criterion. And ending CPR after a fixed short time like two minutes, regardless of response, ignores the dog's actual state and prognosis.