Palliative and hospice care for companion animals is an emerging field that improves quality of life in animals with terminal or serious chronic illness.
Companion animal palliative care addresses a gap in end-of-life welfare for animals with terminal or serious chronic conditions. The shift from cure-focused to comfort-focused care requires assessment of quality of life indicators, pain management, and honest prognosis communication. Good palliative care extends quality life while avoiding unnecessary suffering from invasive treatments unlikely to achieve recovery. The growing recognition of animal palliative care as a specialty reflects both advancing veterinary medicine and increasing public expectation of comprehensive welfare support for companion animals.