Quality of Life Assessment

As your pet is approaching end of life, it can be very difficult to assess their quality of life. How can you tell if your pet is painful, nauseated, or distressed? Is it kind to continue trying to find ways to support your pet through a terminal illness, or are you just prolonging suffering? Many pet owners experience moral distress when making a decision about palliative care and euthanasia. You may find the following tools helpful as you navigate this very difficult process:

JOURNEYS Quality of Life Scale by Dr. Katie Hilst

Quality of Life Assessment by Lap of Love

Knowing When It’s Time to Say Goodbye by Minnesota Pets

How Do I Know When It’s Time? Assessing Quality of Life for Your Companion Animal and Making End-of-Life Decisions by The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Quality of Life Scale by Pawspice

Your pet’s veterinarian can also be a valuable resource in assessing their quality of life. You are always welcome to schedule a quality of life consultation, which can be performed at our clinic or may be able to be performed via a telemedicine consultation. Please call us a (651) 645-2808 if you would like to schedule a consultation.

Content prepared by St. Francis Animal Hospital, 1227 Larpenteur Ave. West, Roseville MN. 55113