Quality of Life Assessment

This is a frequent discussion I have with pet owners. There are many tools online that can help you decide how to assess your own pet’s quality of life. Personally, I am not a big fan of tick boxes in this area, but prefer individual discussion and decision making on a personal level.  I have a few markers that I agree are important for our pets to have a good quality of life. These centre around:

Appetite and eating

Are they enjoying their food?

Is it comfortable to eat?

Are they able to eat enough to sustain themselves?

Are they affected by nausea and sickness?

Mobility

Do they have the ability to rise and move themselves around comfortably

Many dogs in their later years cannot undertake the exercise they would as a young dog but an element of mobility to enjoy the garden and move around the house is important.

Freedom from Pain

Is any pain they are suffering from managed

Are they in pain despite a pain relief treatment plan

Ability to show their normal behaviours

Cleanliness

Are they able to control bowel and bladder habits such that they can be clean and comfortable?

These are all questions that can help you to assess the quality of life of your pet, but it is not black and white. Please get in touch with me to discuss any questions you may have.