Assessing your pet’s quality of life is an important an ongoing responsibility that will aid in making difficult decisions.

Think about a typical day when your pet was healthy:

• How much and how often did they eat or drink?

• What were some of their favorite activities

• How active where they? Think about going for walks, playing indoors, general energy level.

Now think about today:

• Do they still play with their favorite toys, or enjoy favorite activities?

• Are they eating and drinking enough? Are they interested in food at all?

• Can they still get up and move around on their own?

By taking note of these items – and anything else that was an integral part of your lives together – you can begin to see more clearly the ways in which your pet may have declined.

Using a Quality of Life Scale can help you track how your pet is doing over time, or it can be as simple as writing on a calendar each day to track that data over time.

Animals often mask signs of pain until it’s severe, so it can be difficult to know how they’re really feeling. The following are common signs of pain to look for:

• Worried or sad expression
• Droopy head or ears
• Tail is tucked or doesn’t wag
• Hunched back
• Tense face or clenching teeth
• Hides in unusual places or avoids human interaction
• Shakes or trembles
• Excessive panting
• Appears restless or uncomfortable
• Does not want to be touched
• Eyes may appear glazed or “checked out”
• Decreased appetite or no interest in special treats
• Inappropriate elimination, or straining to urinate / defecate
• Isn’t grooming themselves
• Licks an area of the body repeatedly
• Limping, or holding a paw up while standing
• Avoids laying on one side
• Pressing their head against a wall
• Has difficulty sleeping, or wakes up frequently during the night
• Pacing, or an unusual gait
• Avoids moving around or needs assistance to get up
• Vocalizes, whimpers, or yelps spontaneously or when touched
• Refusing to eat
• Lack of interest in playing, or going for walks
• Doesn’t respond when called

Mild pain or discomfort can often be addressed through medication or natural healing like animal massage, chiropractic care, acupuncture, Reiki or T-Touch. Be sure to talk with your veterinarian about the options available to you, and research holistic practitioners in your area.

As a general rule, if there’s any sudden change in your pet that you’re concerned about, it’s important to have it checked out by your veterinarian. (Or at least call to see if they think you should come in.)

Consult with your veterinarian right away if your pet is experiencing the following: (especially if they are elderly, or already suffering a known ailment)

Physical / Visual signs:

• Abdominal swelling
• Bleeding from the mouth, nose, rectum, or urethra
• Unusual eye or nasal discharge
• Hair loss or changes in skin
• Non-healing wounds
• Persistent diarrhea or vomiting
• Sudden changes in weight
• Head tilt or staggering
• New – or rapidly growing – mass/tumor
• Unexplained swelling, heat, pain or lameness

Behavioral / Activity signs:

• Pressing their head against a wall (very dangerous!)
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty eating
• Hesitancy to jump, run or climb stairs
• Decreased activity or interest in play
• Attitude or behavior changes
• Lethargic or less alert
• Drastic changes in appetite or thirst
• Sudden blindness or hearing loss
• Difficulty sitting or standing
• Sleeping more than usual
• Favoring a paw or limb
• Stiff or sore joints
• Pacing or acting anxious
• Unusual or excessive vocalizing
• Inappropriate or uncontrolled elimination

Euthanasia is a Greek word, meaning “good death.” It’s the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering. Your veterinarian will generally administer 2 injections: one to relax your pet and render them unconscious, and one that causes a quick and painless death.

For many people, euthanasia seems appropriate when the pet is unable to get up, refuses food and water, or is visibly in pain. It’s much harder to know what to do when the signs are less obvious. To avoid pain and suffering for your pet, you may be faced with making a decision about euthanasia before these obvious symptoms occur.

Your veterinarian – and team of hospice providers – can help guide your decision and evaluate what’s right for your pet. Many pet owners choose to consult with an animal communicator to gain insight into what their pet may be feeling, and be confident in their decisions.

Three helpful things to consider:

Is my pet suffering or in pain?

Has my pet’s quality of life diminished significantly?

Am I able to provide the care my pet needs?

A growing trend in animal care is in-home euthanasia. For many pet owners, this option is ideal. Their pet won’t experience any undue stress by getting into the car and traveling to the vet office, and they can prepare a calm area where their pet is comfortable and secure. You may choose to have a celebration of life before the vet arrives, or gather friends and family for support.

In-home euthanasia has the added benefit of allowing your other family members, children, or pets to experience the death, and accept what is happening. It can be confusing if one of their companions simply never comes home. Being present for the procedure can be an incredibly healing part of the grieving process.

Many in-home euthanasia vets are able to coordinate the next steps as well. Transporting your pet for cremation, creating keepsake paw or nose imprints, and even providing grief counseling can be invaluable services. The peace of mind when choosing this option often far outweighs any additional costs.

Hospice care for companion animals is very similar to hospice care for humans. It gives us time to adjust to the idea of saying goodbye, make necessary preparations, and perhaps do some final things together that make you both happy.

As with humans, hospice is an acceptance that:

• The patient is not going to get better
• They realistically have only a short time left
• And it’s time to keep them as comfortable and happy as possible

Hospice generally involves a team of providers to care for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of your pet.

Professionals that may provide a service relevant to your pet’s hospice care:

• Your veterinarian
• Animal massage therapist
• Chiropractor
• Acupuncturist
• Animal communicator
• In-home pet sitter
• And even your groomer or photographer

Together, you will learn about your pet’s individual circumstances and the best ways to provide comfort and a high quality of life before they pass. This team can help guide you through decision-making, and support you in your efforts.

Hospice care generally happens in the comfort of your home, where you can help manage your pet’s pain, keep an eye on their eating and drinking habits, and provide a sense of normalcy.

If you are an active part of their day-to-day lives, you will more easily see when behaviors or attitudes change, and with help from your team of providers, be more prepared to make informed decisions when the time comes.

Recommendations from family or friends, who have been through this process, are a great way to find trusted providers for your pet hospice care. Talk to your vet, your groomer, your photographer, as they likely have a network of colleagues they can refer to you.

An online search for “pet hospice” in your city should yield some options as well.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the branches of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), and has been practiced in China in both humans and animals for thousands of years.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of small, thin, sterile needles into specific “acupoints” in the body to cause a therapeutic change to occur. Pets rarely feel the insertion of the small needles, and some may even fall asleep during their acupuncture visit.

Benefits of Acupuncture:

• Pain relief
• Reduce anxiety and stress
• Decrease inflammation
• Regulate the immune system
• Reduce fever
• Stimulate appetite and energy

Conditions that may be good candidates for acupuncture:

• Arthritis
• Back pain
• Hip dysplasia
• Incontinence, diarrhea, or constipation
• Chronic vomiting
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Paralysis
• Seizures
• Anxiety or behavioral issues
• Cancer or other end-of-life geriatric conditions

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Laser Therapy

Laser Therapy (photobiostimulation) is a pain-free method of healing in which photons of laser light are directed into your pet’s tissues. This non-invasive treatment stimulates cell regeneration and increased circulation, which accelerates healing, and reduces pain and swelling.

Your pet might wear protective goggles while the practitioner uses a small handheld device to direct the laser light to the affected areas. Treatments generally take just a few minutes, and pain relief is almost immediate.

It’s helpful for dogs and cats experiencing pain from inflammation, arthritis, sprains and degenerative joint disease. Laser therapy can also be beneficial for cuts, burns, and some infections and allergies.

Laser therapy for pets has no known side effects. It’s drug-free, pain-free, and generally very comforting and relaxing.

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Reiki

Reiki is a Japanese word, loosely meaning “Universal Life Force” or “Spiritual Energy.” It’s a gentle, non-invasive, hands-on healing method where practitioners support self-healing through creating energetic space. It doesn’t actually require physical touch, and can be performed either in-person or from a great distance.

For animals in the end-stages of their lives, Reiki is a powerful, yet gentle way to:

• Provide comfort
• Relieve pain, fear and anxiety
• Reduce chemotherapy side effects
• Ease the transition to death

How does it work?

Practitioners will first ask permission from the animal to participate in a Reiki session. While in the meditative Reiki space, the animal decides whether to accept the treatment, and for how long, while the practitioner simply creates a space where healing possibilities exist. It is a means to elevate positive energy and eliminate negative energy in the body.

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Healing Touch for Animals® (HTA)

HTA accesses the energy centers – or chakras – of the body, as well as the energy field outside the body. HTA is meant to “restore harmony and balance to an animal’s energy system, while providing physical, emotional, mental and instinctual stability.” from healingtouchforanimals.com

HTA can benefit animals by:

• Supporting them through their end-of-life journey
• Supporting them in illness, injury, cancer, and trauma
• Reducing stress and anxiety
• Promoting the human-animal bond

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Massage Therapy

As pets age, the onset of degenerative diseases can cause issues with mobility, pain and impact their health. Massage can help animals – just as it does with humans – in the following ways:

• Soothe pain
• Increase mobility
• Help manage their health and quality of life

More specifically for senior pets, people often notice positive results in their animal companions’ ability to:

• Get up off the floor
• Go up and down stairs
• Improved appetite
• An overall happier demeanor

As our pets age or become ill, the ways in which we care for them may change as well.

Do they need to eat a special diet?
If you’ll be preparing their food, think about how much you can reasonably make and store at one time, or how often you’ll need to do it. If you have other pets, be sure to feed them separately, or keep the regular food out of reach.

Do they need assistance in moving around?
If you pet has trouble getting up and down stairs, or simply standing and walking, you’ll need to help them. Ask your veterinarian the best way you can assist without hurting them, especially if they have areas that are painful, or if you have a larger pet that can’t be carried. You may need to provide non-slip coverings for your hardwood floors, or consider grippy boots for your dog to wear when he needs to move around. A harness with a handle or a sling for their back end may be helpful.

Do you need to administer medication?
Make sure you’re comfortable giving pills or shots, if needed, or enlist the help of someone who is.

As our pets age, they may become less active, and require fewer calories than they once did. They may be more prone to constipation, and require more fiber. If they have decreased kidney function, they may benefit from a diet lower in phosphorus.

Diets should maintain a healthy skin, coat and body weight. Older pets may benefit from additional Omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E and beta-carotene antioxidants to help reduce or slow diseases.

To maintain muscle mass, make sure your pets are receiving high quality proteins. Egg, meat, and fish are highly digestible and will give your pet the most usable amino acids. Lower-quality foods will have inexpensive ingredients (like corn) that aren’t readily absorbed by your pet’s digestive system. Nutrients are more likely to pass through, so they would need to eat more of the low quality food to get the same nutrition as a high-quality food. Depending on your ill or elderly dog’s situation, they may require more protein, or far less.

Always consult with your veterinarian, and discuss your pet’s lifestyle, any changes in eating or drinking habits, and possible diseases when considering changing or supplementing your pet’s diet.

*Consult with your vet first*

Be sure to consult with a professional before adding any supplements to your pet’s diet; they can make sure you’re getting the right formulas at the right dosages for your pet and their unique situation – if they’re even necessary.

Your veterinarian should be able to tell you which supplements might be appropriate for your pet, how much to give them, and where to purchase them.

Just like with humans, our dogs and cats can benefit from supplements to provide nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that may be lacking in their diets. It’s important to note that some prescription diets or medications may conflict with supplements, and too much of anything can be toxic. Beneficial ingredients for humans can be harmful for pets (like garlic and some other herbs), so look for supplements that are specially formulated for cats or dogs.

Do your research

There’s little regulation surrounding the safety, quality, or efficacy of animal supplements, and some less-reputable companies may use misleading labels, or unsafe/contaminated ingredients.

Consumerlab.com reviews supplements and provides lists of reputable brands. For a low monthly fee, you can get access to their reports and discover which supplements work and which don’t.

NASC Quality Seal

Look for supplements that have the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) Quality Seal on their labels.

If your pet is acting abnormally or having any issues after starting him on supplements, stop administering them immediately and contact your veterinarian.

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Types of Supplements

There are countless supplements available for all kinds of ailments. Some common concerns that owners might seek supplements for include:

Joint Health

Many older pets, or pets with certain injuries, suffer from arthritis. Glucosamine-chondroitin supplements can be helpful in preventing or treating those stiff, painful joints.

Skin and Coat

Dry, flaky skin and fur may benefit from supplements that supply essential fatty acids. Fish Oil is a common supplement to encourage a healthy coat.

Antioxidants

Supplements with antioxidants can help reduce inflammation and swelling, as well as maintaining cognitive function.

Pre- and Pro-biotics

Prebiotic and probiotic supplements can help with digestive health, diarrhea, and allergies.

Overall Well-Being

Cranberry can help prevent urinary tract infections. Fish oil can be helpful for heart or kidney disease.

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Potential Issues with Supplements

Too much of anything is generally harmful, and there are a few vitamins and supplements you want to be sure you’re not overloading your pet with:

Vitamin A: Can cause dehydration and harm blood vessels

Calcium: Can cause skeletal problems

Vitamin D: Can harm bones and muscles, and loss of appetite

Glucosamine: Can cause gastrointestinal upset, or conflict with glucose regulation