A score of one indicates strong agreement or a condition that is present all the time or is severe; a score of five indicates strong disagreement or a condition that is never present and nonexistent. Thus, higher scores indicate a better quality of life.
The Survey
Scale
- Strongly Agree / All the Time / Severe
- Agree / Most of the Time / Significant
- Neutral / Sometimes / Mild
- Disagree / Occasionally / Slight
- Strongly Disagree / Never / None
My pet…
- Does not want to play
- Does not respond to my presence or doesn’t interact with me in the same way as before
- Does not enjoy the same activities as before
- Is hiding
- Demeanor/behavior is not the same as it was prior to diagnosis/illness
- Does not seem to enjoy life
- Has more bad days than good days
- Is sleeping more than usual
- Seems dull and depressed
- Seems to be or is experiencing pain
- Is panting (even while resting)
- Is trembling or shaking
- Is vomiting and/or seems nauseous
- Is not eating well (may only be eating treats or if fed by hand)
- Is not drinking well
- Is losing weight
- Is having diarrhea often
- Is not urinating well
- Is not moving normally
- Is not as active as normal
- Does not move around as needed
- Needs my help to move around normally
- Is unable to keep self clean after soiling
- Has coat that is greasy, matted or rough-looking
- How is my pet’s overall health compared to the initial diagnosis/illness?
Interpreting the Results
Once you have rated each prompt, tally up the number of responses for each number and then place an ‘X’ on a “Quality of Life line” labeled “Good” at one end and “Poor” at the other according to your most frequent response.
The purpose of this exercise is to help you better visualize your pet’s general well-being. Of course, not all pets are the same and what is rated poorly for one may not be so bad for another.
For pets currently undergoing treatment, some poor ratings may be linked to symptoms and side effects which will subside. It is always important to discuss your concerns and your pet’s overall demeanor with your veterinarian, especially when considering humane euthanasia.