Quality of life
The questions we all struggle with:
When is it time?
How will I know?
Should I wait for them to pass naturally?
Life is extremely valuable and precious. While we never want to say goodbye too soon, we want to avoid any and all suffering, if at all possible.
There are entire books and countless articles attempting to answer these questions. The truth is: there are no easy or exact answers.
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Looking at the Bigger Picture
Sometimes a series of questions will help us gain perspective.
Weeks
Are we having more good days than bad days? Are relatives or friends, who don’t see your pet every day, commenting on their change or decline in health?
When we have bad days, is it taking us longer to rebound? Are we rebounding to where we were before we got sick?
Days
Is today a good day today the same as what we consider a good day last week or last month?
It is normal for our expectations to change as we do everything we can to accommodate and support our pets as their disease progresses and they require more assistance; however, symptoms that were once a “shock” OR of great concern slowly become the new normal… the first time your pet didn’t finish his food, couldn’t take the stairs, stumbled, or spent the night panting may have initially caused great concern to your family, but now has become the everyday.
Moments
Are we having good days, or are they "good moments” in an otherwise difficult day?
When we are getting to just the good moments, our concern grows very deep. We risk losing those moments of “good” and our ability to provide comfort, and we start to stumble over that fine line between struggling and suffering.
The Five Freedoms
1. Freedom From Pain
Pain can be difficult to assess in animals, but common signs of pain include panting when it’s not hot, restlessness, not sleeping at night, whining, limping, changes in posture or behavior, and changes in appetite.
2. Freedom to Breathe with Ease
The inability to breathe easily is considered equal to, if not worse than, severe, unmanaged pain. Respiratory rates at rest should typically be less than 30 breaths per minute. Another sign of respiratory difficulty includes unwillingness to sleep on one’s side. Pets may adopt a sternal posture instead, lying on their chest vertically or propping their head up on the side of a bed or furniture. Additionally, they may extend a foreleg out to help reduce pressure/open up their airways.
3. Freedom from Nausea/Inappetence
Your pet may become inappetent, drooling, or smacking lips, becoming finicky with food- only likes a type of food once or twice and then not eating it again.
4. Freedom to Sleep with Ease
Pacing, the inability to settle and get comfortable, and nighttime restlessness are serious signs your pet may be experiencing pain, anxiety, difficulty breathing with ease, or some combination.
5. Freedom from Crisis
If at all possible, it is better to assist a struggling pet before the "struggle turns to suffering".
Quality of Life Tracking Tools
Quality of life assessments and tracking categories across key areas like behavior, comfort, appetite, hygiene, and others.
Daily ratings help track overall health and spot trends overtime
This app is both Android and Apple friendly.
Allows you to connect and share info with your veterinary provider.
The Cardalis app is a tool used to monitor a dog's resting respiratory rate, particularly for dogs with heart disease or at risk of heart failure. It helps track changes in breathing rate, which can indicate the progression of heart disease or the onset of heart failure.
This app is both android and apple friendly.
Printable Quality of Life Handouts
Request a Consultation
If you have concerns about your pet’s quality of life or are beginning to consider hospice or end-of-life care, Angel Pets is here to help. Consultations are available for families in both Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
Northern Virginia
Connect with our Northern Virginia team for compassionate guidance regarding your pet’s quality of life, hospice care, and end-of-life options.
Hampton Roads
Connect with our Hampton Roads team for compassionate guidance regarding your pet’s quality of life, hospice care, and end-of-life options.