End-of-life decisions for companion animals require quality of life assessment, honest veterinary communication and owner support to ensure animals do not suffer unnecessarily.
The quality of companion animal end-of-life welfare depends substantially on the quality of the decision-making process. Animals that are allowed to suffer for too long due to owner difficulty accepting death, or euthanased prematurely due to financial pressure, both suffer welfare harm. Honest, compassionate veterinary communication about prognosis and quality of life, combined with structured quality of life assessment, supports decisions that serve the animal's welfare.