Specialized care for geriatric dogs that prioritizes quality of life over life extension in the final months and years.
Geriatric dog welfare requires shifting the primary question from "how long can we extend this life" to "how good is this life." Veterinary medicine has advanced dramatically in its ability to extend canine lives, but the welfare question is whether extended life is also good life — a question that requires honest assessment of pain, cognitive engagement, social connection, and the ability to perform behaviors that define enjoyment and comfort for that individual animal. End-of-life care that maintains quality, manages pain effectively, and enables the euthanasia decision before suffering becomes severe represents the highest expression of the welfare commitment companion animal owners can make to the animals in their care.