What Is Quality of Life For Pets? - Part 2

Most pets will have a decrease in energy when they are not feeling well, the same as people. Feeling a bit run down is not a huge detriment to their quality of life, but if they are sleeping constantly then they can’t really participate in life. Often, this decrease in energy is associated with a decrease in the ability to get around comfortably (also known as mobility). When you first start noticing signs of decreased mobility, it’s important to change the environment so that your pet can get around more easily. If you have a lot of stairs in your house, you should consider putting in ramps, or moving your pet’s feeding and sleeping areas to the same floor of the house. Carpeting will help so that they don’t fall down as easily. Keeping their nails clipped or using nail grips (available online) may help them get more purchase on the floors. A soft, comfortable bed will make it easier for them to sleep – but make sure that they can get in and out of it easily. For cats, move the litter box to an area they can easily reach and make sure that the opening is both large enough and shallow enough for your cat to get in comfortably. Cats will often need more litter boxes so that they don’t have to go far to use the bathroom. If your cat likes looking out the window but can no longer jump, consider getting stairs or a cat tree to reach the window so that they can look outside. Acupuncture may help your pet maintain mobility for a longer period of time, and has very few side effects. If your pet likes to hide from family so that they can sleep, make sure that you keep a comfortable bed in their favorite place, and allow them to retreat when needed.

Quality of life also encompasses issues that are unique to your pet – what YOUR pet likes to do with their days. As their disease progresses or they get older, what they enjoy doing may change. For example, doing surgery for laryngeal paralysis would mean that your water-loving Labrador cannot swim – if that is something that really determines their quality of life, you need to consider that before deciding on surgery. There are things you can do to help your pet participate in their favorite activitities, such as getting a stroller to bring them on walks, or holding them up so that they can look out the window and watch the world. For many pets, eating is one of their favorite things – which makes what we discussed regarding appetite even more important. It is ideal to make a list of 5 things that define a good day for your pet, and keep this in a prominent place. When your pet is no longer able to do these things, even with assistance, it indicates that we need to re-assess their quality of life and make some tough decisions.

Another issue that comes into play is what the underlying disease is. If your pet cannot breathe (due to heart failure, pneumonia, or some other illness), continuing on the same path at home without oxygen support is not a viable option. If they can breathe well with oxygen, you need to consider if being kept in an oxygen cage for the rest of their life is a viable option – for most dogs and cats, this severely curtails their quality of life. If they can’t breathe even with oxygen, it is time to consider euthanasia. Letting anyone die of suffocation is one of the cruelest things we can do. Signs of difficulty breathing include open mouthed breathing (not panting, but more of a struggle), tongue and gums turning blue (called cyanosis), rapid breathing at rest, and coughing so much that they cannot take a breath. If your pet is suddenly struggling to breathe, you MUST bring them to the closest veterinarian as soon as possible – struggling to breathe is considered an emergency and must be addressed, even when you are focusing on palliative care.

When you have a strong bond with your pet, you can tell how they are feeling and they will give you subtle cues that the time is near. Some people talk about the light in their eyes getting dimmer, or that they simply are no longer themselves. Don’t ignore those feelings, even if you don’t have the data to support them. You know your pet better than anyone. The absolute last thing anyone wants is for their pet to suffer.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets and to help you during the final stages of your pet’s life.