The welfare of companion animals at end of life — including recognition of suffering, access to palliative care, and the decision to euthanise — is a critical but often neglected area.
End-of-life welfare failures in companion animals often arise from owner reluctance to euthanise, fuelled by grief, guilt, and uncertainty about quality of life. Animals may suffer for weeks with untreated pain because owners cannot recognise suffering in species that hide it, or cannot face the emotional reality of loss. Veterinary education about quality of life assessment, combined with better grief support, helps owners make decisions in the animal's welfare interest rather than their own emotional needs.