Home Pet Euthanasia
Pet Cremation
What is a Quality of Life scale and how is it used?
A Quality of Life (QOL) Scale is a valuable tool designed to help pet owners assess their animal companion’s comfort and well-being, particularly when facing a serious or terminal illness. This scale provides a structured way to evaluate various aspects of your pet’s daily life—such as pain levels, appetite, mobility, hydration, and overall happiness—by assigning scores that reflect how well your pet is coping.
These assessments are especially helpful when a pet is nearing the end of life. In such cases, medical treatments are typically focused on palliative care—managing symptoms like pain, nausea, or discomfort—rather than attempting to cure the illness. The QOL scale helps families make thoughtful, informed decisions based on how their pet is truly feeling.
The JOURNEYS scale, for example, is not meant to give a definitive answer but to encourage reflection. Sometimes, the process reveals that a pet still enjoys many aspects of life, giving families more time to cherish. Other times, it highlights unrecognized suffering, helping owners consider the most compassionate next steps.
There are no strict numerical thresholds, as every situation is unique. However, a general guideline might suggest:
- A score near 80 suggest your pet is comfortable ,happy and enjoying a good quality of life
- A very low score, such as 8, suggests significant distress and may signal the need for a serious conversation about end-of-life care.
Even a single low score in a critical area—such as unmanaged pain or severe breathing difficulties—can be a strong indicator that quality of life is compromised, even if other areas seem stable. This scale is not about making a decision but about gaining clarity in a difficult time.
We encourage you to use the QOL scale as a conversation starter. Discuss your concerns and observations with your veterinarian, who can offer guidance tailored to your pet’s individual needs and personality. Each pet and family is different, and the best choices are those made with compassion, awareness, and support. If you have questions or need assistance evaluating your pet’s quality of life, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us—we’re here to help.
What you should consider :
The JOURNEYS scale is a helpful way to check how your pet is feeling by looking at different parts of their daily life. Many families use this scale every day or week to see if their pet is doing better, staying the same, or getting worse over time.
Each person in the family can fill out the scale on their own. This can lead to good conversations and help everyone agree on what’s best for the pet. Using a quality of life scale like JOURNEYS is an important step when caring for a pet with a serious illness.
Here’s what each letter in JOURNEYS stands for:
- J - Jumping or Mobility: Can your pet move around easily or do they struggle?
- O - Ouch or Pain: Does your pet seem to be in pain or discomfort?
- U - Uncertainty and Understanding: Do you feel informed and confident in caring for your pet?
- R - Respiration or Breathing: Is your pet breathing normally, or is it hard for them?
- N - Neatness or Hygiene: Can your pet stay clean, or do they need help with grooming?
- E - Eating and Drinking: Is your pet eating and drinking as usual?
- Y - You: How are you doing emotionally and physically while caring for your pet?
- S - Social Ability: Is your pet still interested in being around people or other pets?
This tool is not meant to give a final answer but to help you understand your pet’s needs better. If you have questions, your veterinarian is always here to help you make the best choices with love and care.
Score: 0
This tool is not meant to give a final answer but to help you understand your pet’s needs better. If you have questions, your veterinarian is always here to help you make the best choices with love and care.
