The decision to euthanase a companion animal is one of the most significant welfare decisions an owner makes. Evidence-based quality of life assessment tools can help owners and vets make timely, compassionate decisions that prevent prolonged suffering.
Euthanasia, when performed humanely and at the right time, is one of the most compassionate acts available to companion animal owners. The challenge is that psychological factors — denial, hope, attachment, and fear of grief — often lead to delayed decisions that prolong animal suffering. Research consistently shows that vets believe owners wait too long more often than they act too soon. Quality of life assessment tools provide a systematic framework for evaluating whether an animal is experiencing more suffering than positive experience, helping to make the decision process more objective. Welfare-centred end-of-life care means taking suffering seriously, using available tools to assess quality of life honestly, and prioritising the animal's experience over the owner's emotional readiness.