End-of-life decisions for companion animals involve profound welfare considerations, and supporting both animal and human through this transition requires compassionate, evidence-based guidance.
Companion animal end-of-life welfare requires recognizing that the welfare-respecting choice is sometimes earlier intervention, not extension of life at any cost. Quality of life assessment — evaluating pain, appetite, mobility, interaction, and good days versus bad days — provides a framework for decisions that center the animal rather than the owner. Veterinary euthanasia, when appropriate, is a final act of care that spares suffering that treatment cannot address.