There may come a point in your senior dog’s journey where you start to wonder, "Are they still enjoying life? Are they comfortable? How do I know when it’s time to say goodbye?"
These are heartbreaking questions, but also an important act of love. One of the kindest things we can do for our aging companions is to recognize when their quality of life is declining and help them transition peacefully, before the suffering outweighs the joy.
Measuring Comfort and Happiness
A Quality of Life (QOL) assessment can help you evaluate your dog’s physical and emotional well-being with more clarity. Look at their days as a whole:
- Are they eating and drinking well?
- Can they move comfortably without significant pain?
- Are they still engaging with you or their environment?
- Can they rest without struggling or distress?
- Do they have more good days than bad?
Even small joys — a tail wag, a gentle sniff on a walk, a moment of connection — matter. But if those moments are becoming fewer, or replaced by confusion, pain, or exhaustion, it may be time to talk with your vet about next steps.
If you'd like a guide, we recommend printing or tracking a QOL scale over time to help you and your vet make informed, compassionate decisions. A tool like the H5M2 Quality of Life Scale (Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, More good days than bad) is often helpful.