Geriatric pets face age-related health conditions that may cause chronic pain; improving end-of-life welfare requires active management and humane euthanasia when appropriate.
Elderly pets commonly experience chronic pain from arthritis, dental disease, and cancer that is frequently under-recognized and undertreated. Modern veterinary pain management including NSAIDs, gabapentin, and rehabilitation can dramatically improve quality of life. Knowing when to choose humane euthanasia rather than prolonging life with poor quality is one of the most important welfare decisions pet owners face.