Dogs are living longer than ever before due to improved veterinary care. Assessing and maintaining quality of life in senior dogs requires understanding the dimensions of canine wellbeing beyond absence of disease.
Quality of life assessment in senior dogs is both a welfare and ethical imperative. Dogs cannot verbally communicate diminishing wellbeing, making systematic assessment tools essential. The HHHHHMM scale (Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, More Good Days) provides a framework for ongoing monitoring. Pain management in senior dogs has improved significantly — multimodal approaches combining NSAIDs, gabapentin, acupuncture, and environmental modifications can maintain high quality of life with significant disease burden. Cognitive dysfunction requires different management — environmental enrichment, cognitive stimulation, and sometimes medication. The ethical responsibility of end-of-life decision-making — knowing when euthanasia serves the dog's welfare — is the most difficult aspect of senior dog care.