End-of-life decisions for dogs are among the most difficult animal welfare challenges owners face, requiring honest assessment of quality of life and timely intervention.
End-of-life welfare is a profound responsibility for companion animal owners. The ability to humanely end suffering through veterinary euthanasia represents a major welfare advantage of domesticated animals over their wild counterparts. However, many owners delay this decision through grief, guilt, or hope that improvement may occur, resulting in dogs experiencing unnecessary suffering. Structured quality of life assessment helps owners make welfare-focused rather than emotion-driven decisions. Veterinarians have an ethical obligation to raise euthanasia as an option when quality of life has deteriorated irreversibly. Good death — peaceful, pain-free, and ideally in a familiar environment with trusted people present — is a fundamental welfare entitlement for companion animals.