Determining Your Pet’s Quality of Life
The Age-Old Dilemma:
Quality v. Quantity
In the wild, animals who put their pain on display make themselves targets. They become more susceptible to attacks, and this instinct—pain disguised in the name of survival—is the same approach they take in the household environment. It’s simply the way they our pets are wired.
What this means for us humans, a species accustomed to vocalizing pain, is that we aren’t always attuned to the way our pets might exhibit their own suffering. Instead of yelping from severe and chronic arthritis, for example, a dog might pant heavily or lie down less. In some cases, anxiety becomes interwoven with an existing health condition, and worsens it. But the good news is: veterinarians can help manage it. You’ve simply got to spot it first.
Since understanding our pet’s needs, especially in the final quarter of their lifespan, can be confusing—we suggest pet owners take a look at some of the Quality of Life Indicators below (You’ll also find these questions in our “How Will I Know When It’s Time?” post). Sometimes because our lives are so closely intertwined with our animals, we forget to see them with fresh eyes, and these Quality of Life assessments offer us a moment to re-examine what’s going on.
Before Answering The Questions . . .
It’s sometimes helpful to:
Take a breath
Close your eyes
Imagine your pet early in their life
Create some mental snapshots of what those early days were like before you —
Open your eyes and observe your pet’s current state
What we’re looking for in these QOL assessments, is the balance of three main components:
Standard of health
Comfort
Happiness
We live in a world where lifespans (human and animal) have been prolonged longer than ever through the intervention of science and technology. Though there are definitely some innovative treatments in the field of veterinary medicine, some of these treatments prolong suffering in the name of longevity and we, at Loyal & Loved, want to help pet owners think about the “quality” component of this time in your pet’s life.
Quality of Life Indicators
Social interaction, and affection with loved ones
Does my pet still wag his/her tail?
Does he/she still lift their head to greet me?
Does my pet still have a look of joy in his/her eyes?
Are there things that once brought my pet joy, but are no longer interesting to them?
Engagement with surroundings
Does my pet have a sense of where they are?
Does their home environment confuse them?
Does my pet still get enjoyment from what is happening around them?
Meals and enjoyment from food
Has my pet stopped eating and drinking?
Does my pet have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that is becoming more difficult to treat?
Mobility and physical comfort
Is my pet able to move around without pain?
Does my pet still seem to enjoy going for walks? Or is my pet lethargic, having a hard time breathing, or suffering from weakness?
Ability to go to the toilet comfortably and keep themselves clean
Can my pet still urinate and defecate without trouble or do they show significant discomfort?
Is my pet frequently incontinent in the house?
Is my pet defecating on him/herself?
Ability to sleep and rest without discomfort or agitation
Does my pet awaken frequently with discomfort or agitation?
Good Days v. Bad Days
Is my pet having more bad days than good days?