End-of-life decisions for companion animals require balancing quality of life against duration, with euthanasia being a compassionate option when quality is insufficient.
The most important end-of-life welfare decision is the timing of euthanasia — acting too early denies good time, while delaying too long causes preventable suffering. The animal cannot advocate for itself. Using validated quality-of-life assessment tools removes some of the subjectivity from this most difficult decision. Euthanasia, when performed at the right time, is the last act of care for a companion whose welfare matters.