Quality of Life Scale for Pets

There may come a time when assessing your pet’s quality of life (QOL) is important in deciding whether or not palliative care should be implemented or if humane euthanasia should be considered. Being told “you will know when it is time” is never helpful advice.

When Dr. Banks began MMVHS back in 2012, she developed her own QOL scale for pets to use with her hospice, palliative and geriatric patients. It is meant to help families take subjective thoughts about a beloved pet and put them into a more objective framework. Dr. Banks used this scale with her own dog, Smudge, to help her decide when it was time to say goodbye to her sweet girl.

If you have concerns about your pet's quality of life, this scale is now available for you to download and complete. If your pet scores poorly and/or you are looking for additional guidance, please contact us to schedule a Quality of Life Assessment with one of our Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs).