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Is It Time?

Name: The Home Farewell Vet
Price range: ££
Rating: 5

This is one of the hardest decisions you will ever face as a pet owner. The six factors below can help you assess your pet's quality of life. If most are deteriorating, it may be time to have a conversation — with us, or with your vet.

Unfortunately our pets rarely ‘pass in their sleep’ and it’s up to us as their advocates to assess their quality of life and welfare.

We know this can be hard, so we have put together a guide to help.

For quality of life, your pet should be rating above 5/10 in all of these important welfare factors:

Pain

>5/10

Is your pet in pain that cannot be managed? Watch for: vocalisation, excessive panting, restlessness, reluctance to move, hunching or guarding a body part.

Happiness

>5/10

Are there more bad days than good? Signs of reduced happiness: disorientation, aggression, withdrawal from family, loss of interest in favourite activities.

Eating

>5/10

Has your pet lost interest in food, including treats they previously loved? Significant weight loss is a serious concern.

Movement

>5/10

Can your pet move around without significant discomfort? Mobility loss affects dignity and can lead to secondary problems like sores.

Drinking

>5/10

Both excessive drinking and refusal to drink can signal disease progression. Look for changes from your pet's normal pattern.

Cleanliness

>5/10

Can your pet maintain basic hygiene and continence? Inability to clean themselves or accidents indoors can cause distress and skin problems.

Interactive Tool

Ageing Canine Checklist

Work through the checklist answering each section. If your dog scores red or amber for any question, it’s worth seeking advice from your veterinary practice. Taking short videos or photos of any concerning behaviour can help.

Y Yes (concerning) M Maybe N Not a problem

Your phone number

We will call you back

Adapted from the BSAVA PetSavers Ageing Canine Toolkit, developed in association with the University of Liverpool. Visit bsava.com/petsavers for more.

Not sure? Call us. It's free.

We offer free telephone consultations every day from 7am to 9pm. No pressure, no commitment. Just a kind, honest conversation with an experienced vet.

Call Alice07957 742468 Call Sam07780 705149

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