Cold Lake Veterinary Clinic - Quality of Life

Quality of Life Assessments                                                                                                                                                                        

The following questions can help determine if quality-of-life has been reduced to the point that euthanasia

 makes sense. Generally, if your pet can no longer experience the things they once enjoyed or appears to be
experiencing more pain than pleasure despite best efforts to make them more comfortable, it may be time.

• Does your pet respond to you?
• Is your pet responsive to the environment?
• Are eating and drinking habits normal?
• Is your pet soiling his/her sleeping area?
• Does your pet have limited mobility?
• Is your pet unable to groom himself/herself?
• 
  Is your pet comfortable? In pain? Content?
• Can your pet still experience simple joys?
• Does your pet participate in usual activities?
• Do you have financial resources to provide care?
• Are you keeping your pet alive, more for you or for your pet?
  
  
  
• Access the following QOL questionnaires:

  To help you decide what level of Quality of Life your pet currently has, and to track how things are progressing, please access one of the questionnaires
  below. There is also an app called Grey Muzzle that can be helpful for tracking any changes in your pet day by day. 

  QOL Tools
  
  Assessing Quality of Life & Euthanasia in Companion Animals
  
  Helpful Links For Pet Hospice & End-of-Life Care | IAAHPC
  
  How to assess pain in dogs:  BEAP Pain Scale for Dogs
  
  How to assess pain in cats:  Feline Grimace Scale