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Quality-of-Life Scale: Handout

This document provides a quality-of-life scale for pet owners and veterinarians to evaluate a pet's quality of life based on their social functions, natural functions, mental health, and physical health. It also includes a scale for owners to rate their own concerns about their pet's suffering, care needs, death, and coping with loss. The scale is meant to be completed over time and by multiple family members to assess any changes and help inform decisions about hospice care or euthanasia. Open-ended questions are also provided to help veterinarians understand owners' expectations and priorities for their pet's end-of-life experience.

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226 views1 page

Quality-of-Life Scale: Handout

This document provides a quality-of-life scale for pet owners and veterinarians to evaluate a pet's quality of life based on their social functions, natural functions, mental health, and physical health. It also includes a scale for owners to rate their own concerns about their pet's suffering, care needs, death, and coping with loss. The scale is meant to be completed over time and by multiple family members to assess any changes and help inform decisions about hospice care or euthanasia. Open-ended questions are also provided to help veterinarians understand owners' expectations and priorities for their pet's end-of-life experience.

Uploaded by

Nongnan Kaka
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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 HANDOUT Dani McVety, DVM

Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice


Tampa, Florida

Quality-of-Life Scale
When evaluating quality of life, personalized patient and client information is needed to reach an educated, informed, and
supported choice that fits not only the pets medical condition but also the familys wishes. In short, quality of life applies not
only to the pet; it also applies to the family.
SUGGESTIONS ON USING THIS QUALITY-OF-LIFE SCALE:
1. Complete the scale at different times of day to note fluctuations, because most pets do better during the day and worse at night.
2. Ask multiple family members to complete the scale; compare their observations.
3. Take periodic photos of the pet to help remember his or her physical appearance.

Part 1: Pets Quality of Life Part 2: Familys Concerns


Score each subsection on a scale of 02: Score each item on a scale of 02:
0 = I agree with statement (describes my pet). 0 = I am not concerned at this time
1 = I see some changes. 1 = There is some concern
2 = I disagree with statement (does not describe my pet). 2 = I am concerned about this.
I am concerned about the following things:
1. Social Functions 1. My pets suffering
a. Desire to be with the family has not changed 2. My desire to perform nursing care for my pet
b. Interacts normally with family or other pets (ie, no increased 3. My ability to perform nursing care for my pet
aggression or other changes). 4. My pet dying alone
2. Natural Functions 5. Not knowing the right time to euthanize
a. Appetite has stayed the same 6. Coping with loss
b. Drinking has stayed the same 7. Concern for other animals in my household
c. Urination habits have stayed the same 8. Concern for other members of the family (ie, children).
d. Bowel movements have stayed the same
e. Ability to ambulate (walk around) has stayed the same. Results
3. Mental Health 0 4 = Your concerns are minimal. You have either accepted the
a. Enjoys normal play activities inevitable loss of your pet and understand what lies ahead, or
b. S till dislikes the same things (ie, still hates the mailman = 0; have not yet given it much thought. Now is the time to begin
doesnt bark at the mailman anymore = 2) evaluating your own concerns and limitations.
c. No outward signs of stress or anxiety 59 = Your concerns are mounting. Begin by educating yourself
d. Does not seem confused or apathetic on your pets condition, which is the best way to ensure you are
e. Nighttime activity is normal, with no changes seen. prepared for the emotional changes ahead.
4. Physical Health 1016 = Your concerns about your pet are valid. Now is the time
a. Shows no changes in breathing or panting patterns to build a support system. Veterinary guidance will help you
b. S hows no outward signs of pain (See Read All About It) prepare for the medical changes in your pet and other health
c. Does not pace around the house professionals can begin helping you with anticipatory grief.
d. Overall condition has not changed recently.
ASK QUESTIONS
Results These open-ended questions will help to gauge the familys time,
0 8 = Quality of life is most likely adequate. No medical emotional, and (when appropriate, financial) budgets:
intervention required yet, but guidance from your veterinarian may 1. Have you ever been through the loss of a pet before? If so, what
help identification of signs to look for in the future. was your experience (good or bad, and why)?
9 16 = Quality of life is questionable and medical intervention is 2. What do you hope the life expectancy of your pet will be? What
suggested. Your pet would benefit from veterinary oversight and do you think it will be?
guidance to evaluate his or her disease process. 3. What is the ideal situation you wish for your pets end-of-life
1736 = Quality of life is a definite concern. Changes will likely experience (at home, pass away in her sleep)?
become more progressive and more severe. Veterinary guidance
will help you better understand the end stages of your pets  
disease process in order to make a more informed decision of
whether to continue hospice care or elect peaceful euthanasia.
READ ALL ABOUT IT
AAHA/AAFP pain management guidelines for dogs
and cats. American Animal Hospital Association, 2007;
https://www.aahanet.org/Library/PainMgmt.aspx
Pet hospice journal; www.pethospicejournal.com

veterinaryteambrief.com

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