Providing good end-of-life care for companion animals involves recognizing when quality of life has declined, making difficult decisions about euthanasia, and supporting animals through their final weeks and days.
Companion animals cannot advocate for themselves when quality of life declines, making this one of the most ethically important responsibilities of pet ownership. Delaying euthanasia when quality of life is irreversibly poor, through emotional difficulty or hope for improvement, causes preventable suffering. Conversely, euthanizing before quality of life has genuinely declined deprives animals of good time remaining. Regular quality of life assessment using validated tools, combined with honest discussion with a veterinarian, helps owners navigate this difficult territory. Good end-of-life veterinary care that prioritizes comfort and dignity is itself an expression of the human-animal bond.