The final years of a companion animal's life require proactive welfare planning that addresses pain management, mobility, cognitive function, and quality of life assessment.
Senior companion animal welfare requires a shift from reactive to proactive management: rather than waiting for obvious illness, proactive senior care monitors early signs of pain, cognitive decline, and organ disease and intervenes before welfare compromise is severe. The welfare tools exist — pain assessment scales, quality of life charts, geriatric blood testing — but their use depends on owner awareness and veterinary communication. Planning for the end of life before crisis allows welfare-centred decisions rather than emotionally-driven delays.