End-of-life decisions for companion animals are among the most difficult for owners and vets, and quality-of-life assessment frameworks help navigate these decisions with animal welfare at the centre.
Animals whose quality of life has irreversibly declined experience daily suffering that cannot be alleviated. Veterinary euthanasia, when performed correctly, is a peaceful death that ends suffering. Delayed euthanasia driven by owner reluctance causes measurable additional suffering. The welfare of the animal must be the primary consideration in end-of-life decisions, even when this conflicts with owner emotional needs.