What are some of the conditions that might cause a dog’s quality of life to deteriorate?
Most senior pets develop one or more medical conditions that tend to worsen over time. Examples of chronic medical conditions common in the older dog include:
What does each category mean for a dog approaching the end of its life?
Hurt. Adequate pain control, including the ability to breathe properly, is an absolute necessity. Most pet owners do not know that being able to breathe is ranked as an important pain management strategy. A dog may benefit from receiving oxygen at home, and it may not be as challenging to provide as you think. Other methods of controlling pain may include oral or injectable medication.
Hunger. If a dog cannot eat properly or willingly, first try hand-feeding. If this is not successful, then it may be appropriate to consider a feeding tube, particularly if oral medication must be given. Blended or liquid diets may offer another alternative.
Hydration. Fluid under the skin is an easy and well-tolerated way to supplement what an ailing dog is drinking. This is not a heroic measure but can really help an older dog feel better.
Hygiene. Can the dog be brushed, combed, and kept clean? Is the coat matted? Can the dog move away from stool or urine if it has an accident? Is there a tumor that has outgrown its blood supply and now has an odor or discharge? Often, a dilute solution of shampoo/soap from your veterinarian on a sponge or washcloth can be used to clear dead cells away without causing pain. Your veterinary healthcare team can help work out the details of this kind of care. It is also important to turn bedridden pets regularly, keep them clean and dry, and ensure that they have adequate padding underneath to prevent bedsores.
Happiness. Is the dog experiencing joy or mental stimulation? Dogs communicate with their eyes, as well as by wagging their tails. Is the ailing dog still interacting with family members and with the environment? Placing comfortable beds near family activities helps a dog remain engaged in life. Dogs are social animals and can become depressed when they are separated from their pack.
Mobility. If the dog can no longer move around on its own, it may be time to consider one of the many mobility devices that are available. A sling or harness for support may be all that is required. Other options, depending on how much support is needed, include two-wheel carts, four-wheel carts, and wagons. Mobility devices allow a dog to stay active. This is particularly important for bigger dogs that cannot simply be carried from place to place. Mobility and hygiene go together when a dog is bedridden. Your veterinarian is an important resource when working through mobility issues.
More good days than bad. When there are too many bad days in a row, or if the dog seems to be turned off to life, quality of life is compromised. Bad days may mean nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, frustration, unrelenting pain/discomfort, or inability to breathe.
Assessing Your Senior Dog’s Level of Pain
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1 Imagine whether your senior dog wants to live. Put yourself in your senior dog’s paws. Empathetically imagining yourself as your senior dog
END STAGES & QUALITY OF LIFE
When dogs become older or suffer from a debilitating disease or chronic pain, their quality of life (QoL) comes into question. When determining QoL, you are determining how much a dog may be suffering and if it’s possible to make them more comfortable through further treatment or changes in lifestyle. The QoL assessment is crucial for good palliative and hospice care and is the linchpin of the euthanasia decision.
When you consider the term “quality of life,” remember that it affects both the quality of life of your pets and your own. Assessing one’s own life does not diminish the love and care that one gives to one’s pet, but emphasizes the priorities and needs that one must cultivate for it. It can be difficult to make difficult decisions due to financial and other constraints, but it is important to take care of yourself and remember that you are doing what is best for both you and your pet. At the same time, you want your dog to maintain its quality of life. If he is in pain, unhappy or has difficulty doing everyday things, you do not want him to continue to suffer.
Trying to determine your pet’s quality of life is a daunting task and we are often left in denial. Dr. Alice Villalobos, DVM, has developed a scale to determine whether euthanizing your pet is the right choice for your situation. This is called the “HHHHHMM Test,” which covers five main areas of life: Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility and More good days than bad days. You can view the HHHHHMM scale here.
You can also use a Quality of Life calculator such as this one available by Journey’s Pets. While you shouldn’t use an online calculator or test to fully determine the qualify of life, it can be a good indicator of what steps to take next and which concerns to bring up with your vet. As useful as they may be, QoL questionnaires are at an early stage of development and should not be used by veterinarians or pet owners to make final decisions.
It’s important to note that wagging tails doesn’t automatically equal high quality of life as many dogs display happiness through their suffering. As your dog ages and his health decreases, it can be difficult to decide when is the right time to euthanize. The concept of QoL can be applied to any animal, but they are complex and difficult to measure.
Understanding and measuring the quality of life of older dogs can go a long way to ensure that our pets live the best lives we can give them and can help us know when it is time to let them go. The purpose of measuring the so-called Quality of Life Scale is to help owners measure the quality of life of a pet at a time when emotions are still raw. Saying goodbye is always heartbreaking, but when it does, we can seek solace in knowing what a wonderful journey we have made together.