Quality of Life 

When we decide to have a pet we take on a complex responsibility and covenant to protect and be there for them— in every way. The time may come when he or she grows sick or painful, and it is our duty to do what is best for them, despite the heartbreak and sorrow it may bring to us personally. Euthanasia is our last and most profound act of love and stewardship. In making that difficult decision we must step beyond our own feelings and do what is best for our beloved companions. And making the decision almost always comes down to quality of life.

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Nobody wants to live forever. When we can also somehow put that into perspective for our dear animal companions, it makes a lot of new sense. They have their own strong sense of dignity, too. Unfortunately, that is too often overlooked.

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One of the most common concerns we hear is that people worry if they have allowed the pet to suffer.  Please know that there is no right or wrong answer, and our pets know that each decision we make is made only out of deep love for them and because we don't want them to suffer.   

We hope this scale will be helpful in providing and objective assessment of your pet's quality of life, when often we can be too emotionally involved and subjective to make a clear decision. 

Quality of Life Scale

  • HURT

    Adequate pain control & breathing ability is of top concern. Trouble breathing outweighs all concerns. Is your pet’s pain well managed? Can they breathe properly? Are you seeing them panting, having labored breathing / shallow, rapid breathing? Do they have a difficult time settling, seem restless?

    Score 1-10

    1 = pain is not able to be controlled

    10 = pain is minimal or well controlled with medications

  • HUNGER

    Is your pet eating enough? Does hand feeding help? Does appetite come and go, are you able to entice them with different foods? Have they lost intereest in food?

    Score 1-10

    1 = my pet has no interest in food and hasn’t eaten in a day or two

    10 = appetite is normal

  • HYDRATION

    Is your pet dehydrated? For patients not drinking enough water, mixing water in with food, feeding broths or giving subcutaneous fluids can be helpful to supplement fluid intake.

    Score 1-10

    1 = my pet has stopped drinking and won’t takee anything by mouth

    10 = my pet is drinking normally

  • HYGEINE

    Is your pet keeping themselves clean? If not you can help with brushing and cleaning them, particularly after eliminations. Avoid pressure sores with soft bedding and keep all wounds clean. Keeping nails short can help with mobility.

    Score 1-10

    1 = my pet has stopped grooming themselves / has open sores / will not let me brush them

    10 = my pet is grooming themselves normally and keeping clean

  • HAPPINESS

    Does your pet express joy and interest? Are they responsive to family, toys, walks, etc.? Do you feel that they are depressed, lonely, anxious, bored or afraid? Are they actively enjoying life?

    Score 1-10

    1 = my pet doesn’t show any interest in playing, engaging or doing the things they have always loved

    10 = my pet is still active, wants to go on walks, be with me and play

  • MOBILITY

    Can your pet get up without assistance? Do they need human or mechanical help (e.g., a cart)? Does the pet feel like going for a walk? Are they having seizures or stumbling? Do they seem uncoordinated, are they dragging their feet?

    Score 1-10

    1 = my pet is not able to get up or stay up on their own

    10 = my pet has normal mobility, no stiffness or trouble walking

  • GOOD DAYS vs BAD DAYS

    When bad days outnumber good days, quality of life might be too compromised. When a healthy human-animal bond is no longer possible, the caregiver must be made aware that the end is near. The decision for euthanasia needs to be made if the pet is suffering. If death comes peacefully and painlessly at home, that is okay.

    Score 1-10

    1 = good days are few and far between

    10 = bad days are few and far between

  • TOTAL

    A total over 35 points represents acceptable life quality to continue with pet hospice. A score under 35 points is concerning that your pet’s quality of life has diminished greatly.