A veterinarian has shared a helpful method for assessing the quality of life of aging pets to aid pet owners in making the difficult decision of when to say goodbye. Dr. Faith Banks, specializing in geriatric and palliative care for pets, gained attention on TikTok for her expertise in caring for elderly animals.
Dr. Banks emphasized the importance of evaluating a pet’s quality of life using a free quality of life scale available on her website. This scale consists of 14 categories that assign scores from zero to five, with lower scores indicating poor quality. By monitoring her own dog’s declining score, which fell below 60, Dr. Banks made the decision to say goodbye before the situation worsened.
The veterinarian highlighted the signs that indicated her dog’s deteriorating quality of life, such as decreasing energy levels, mobility issues, loss of interest in activities, disrupted sleep, and physical discomfort. Recognizing her dog’s unhappiness, Dr. Banks decided it was time to say goodbye.
Dr. Banks, the founder of MMVHS, stresses the importance of not waiting too long to make the decision for euthanasia, believing it is better to act a day early than a month late. To assist pet owners in assessing their pet’s quality of life, she has provided a free quality of life scale on the MMVHS website, designed to help families make more objective decisions during challenging times.
Pet owners can access and use the quality of life scale on the MMVHS website. However, in cases of concern about a pet’s health, it is always recommended to seek advice from a veterinarian for proper guidance.
