The Importance of Quality of Life Assessments for Ageing Pets
For most of us, our pets are an important part of our families. Sometimes, they are our whole world. They give us unconditional love and immense joy. To keep them living long, and even more importantly, great lives, we need to ensure that the care we give is tailored to the stage of their life. As our dogs and cats get older, they will inevitably have changes develop in their bodies that will force them to change their lifestyle. With adequate veterinary care, we can delay those changes or manage the impact they have in their day-to-day so they can enjoy the most of their Golden Years.
What is a Quality of Life Assessment?
A Quality of Life Assessment allows your veterinarian to take a look at your pet’s daily routine, see what their normal needs are and where they are having difficulties. It requires a holistic approach where we assess their pre-diagnosed conditions, current treatments, and the impact on their bodies. Along with what they enjoy doing, their nutrition, hygiene, the environment where they live and how their primary carer can assist. At Horizon Palliative Vets, we recommend a Quality of Life Assessment to be done at home, where your pet is most comfortable and more likely to demonstrate their natural behaviours. It usually takes 1-2 hours and is followed by a written Personalised Care Plan and ongoing support.
Signs of Declining Quality of Life in Ageing Pets
Reduced mobility: most cats and dogs develop arthritis after a certain age and with that comes chronic pain. It can be difficult to identify pain/discomfort in stoic pets so most cases are untreated.
Sleeping longer hours and avoiding people/other pets: this is usually secondary to poorly managed chronic pain, they prefer to just sleep than interact.
Increased anxiety: as our pet’s mental status decline with age, we may see developing or worsening anxiety. This is sometimes most noticeable at night.
Behavioural changes: this can be seen due to increased discomfort or cognitive changes (sometimes also called “dog dementia”). Dogs that have never shown signs of aggression can become “snappy” or unpredictable in some occasions.
Palliative Care and Quality of Life
Dogs and cats in palliative care tend to have an overall improved quality of life. Sometimes, it is difficult for the primary carer to detect the small daily changes and to know what can be uncomfortable for their pet. When they have a Palliative Care Vet Team involved, all aspects from the pet’s life will be taken into consideration to ensure their life is as comfortable as it can be.