End-of-life care for companion animals has improved dramatically, but decisions around euthanasia and palliative care remain emotionally complex.
The decision to euthanize a companion animal is one of the most welfare-significant choices a pet owner makes. Delaying euthanasia to avoid grief causes prolonged suffering in animals who cannot communicate their pain verbally. Quality-of-life assessment tools help owners make decisions earlier and with more clarity. The availability of in-home euthanasia has improved the welfare of the euthanasia experience itself enormously.