Assessing quality of life in seriously ill companion animals helps owners and veterinarians make compassionate, well-timed end-of-life decisions. Structured assessment tools provide objective frameworks for difficult choices.
End-of-life decision-making for companion animals is a welfare-critical juncture where the ability to prevent prolonged suffering through euthanasia is both a responsibility and a gift. The welfare goal is ensuring that animals do not suffer unnecessarily in their final weeks or months, which requires honest, structured quality of life assessment rather than relying solely on owner emotional readiness. Research suggests that many companion animals are euthanized later than is optimal from a welfare perspective, with owners struggling to act despite clear evidence of suffering. Welfare-centered end-of-life care provides excellent pain management and palliative support while regularly reassessing whether the animal still experiences sufficient good days to justify continued treatment.