Not sure if it's time?
A quiet way to weigh how your pet is doing
Deciding is one of the hardest things a pet owner faces. This short, private checklist won't decide for you — but it can help you see things a little more clearly, and give you something concrete to talk through with your vet. Rate each area from 0 (struggling) to 10 (doing well).
Hurt
5 / 10Is pain well controlled, and is breathing comfortable? Pain relief comes first.
Hunger
5 / 10Is your pet eating enough — with or without a little hand-feeding?
Hydration
5 / 10Is your pet drinking and staying hydrated?
Hygiene
5 / 10Can your pet be kept clean and comfortable, and free of sores?
Happiness
5 / 10Does your pet still show interest, joy, and connection with you?
Mobility
5 / 10Can your pet move around well enough to do the things they want to?
More good days than bad
5 / 10Are the good days still outnumbering the hard ones?
This is around the threshold
Your pet's quality of life may be becoming harder to maintain. This is a good moment to talk it through with your vet — together you can decide what comes next.
This is a reflective guide based on the HHHHHMM Quality-of-Life Scale (Dr. Alice Villalobos), not a medical assessment. A score above roughly 35 out of 70 is generally considered an acceptable quality of life. Your veterinarian knows your pet and is the best person to help you weigh this decision.