Quality of Life Assessment

Quality of life is something very difficult to determine in a pet, with humans you can have a conversation about every ache and pain happening in the body. With pets on the other hand we have to use different signs to assess their quality of life.

Please follow the following link for the quality of life scale:

https://vetsocialwork.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Quality-of-Life.pdf

Signs that you should be observant of in an elderly dog or a sick dog in hospice care include:

Loss of coordination
Loss of appetite
No longer drinking water
Lack of desire to move or a lack of enjoyment in things they once enjoyed
Extreme fatigue
Vomiting or incontinence
Muscle twitching
Confusion
Slowed respiration
Inability to get comfortable
A desire to be closer to you or a desire to be alone (this can depend upon the dog, but will present as being an unusual need or behavior)
Loss of consciousness

Weeks before your dog passes you will begin to notice some of these signs. Most commonly these signs follow a similar pattern to the following:

3 months to 3 weeks before your dog passes you may notice: weight loss, a lack of self-grooming, duller eyes, dehydration, and gastrointestinal changes.
3 weeks before your dog passes you may notice: increasing weight loss, picky eating, a change in respiration patterns, less interest in pleasurable activities, increased self-isolation, eye discharge, and skin problems.
The last few days before your dog passes you may notice: extreme weight loss, a distant look in their eyes, a lack of interest in anything, restlessness or unusual stillness, a change in the way that your dog smells, and a changed temperament.

If you have any questions or hesitation regarding any of these signs please reach out to us and we can help assess your pets quality of life.