As pet owners, we share a deep bond with our animals — they are more than companions; they are family. Ensuring their comfort, happiness, and well-being is at the heart of everything we do. At Gordon Vet Hospital we understand that one of the most difficult aspects of caring for a beloved pet is recognising when their quality of life may be declining due to age, illness, or chronic conditions.

This Quality of Life Assessment Scale is designed to support you in making thoughtful, compassionate decisions about your pet’s care. By evaluating key areas such as mobility, appetite, comfort, and daily enjoyment, you can gain valuable insight into how your pet is feeling and functioning. Our goal is to provide you with clear, supportive information to help you and your veterinary team work together in the best interest of your pet’s health and dignity.

This scale is based on the published HHHHHMM scale, adapted by Villalobos, A.E., Quality of Life Scale Helps Make Final Call, Veterinary Practice News, September 2004, for Canine and Feline Geriatric Oncology Honoring the Human-Animal Bond, by Blackwell Publishing, released 2006.

Your love and dedication make all the difference. We’re here to guide and support you every step of the way.

Quality of life Assessment Scale

This scale is for regular use when trying to assess your animals’ current quality of life to ensure any decision made is in the best interest of your beloved pet. Use this scale with guidance from a veterinary professional. This scale is subjective and your own assessment of your animal’s life.

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Hurt - Is your pet's pain successfully managed?

Selected Value: 5

1: Signs of pain are noticed all the time. 5: Signs or pain are noticed approximately every second day. 10: No signs of pain are noticed at all.

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Hunger - How do you rate your pet’s hunger and nutrition?

Selected Value: 5

1: Rare to never hungry and/or requires medical intervention to be fed. 5: Hunger levels vary, with good appetite half the time. 10: Appetite and ability to eat are not affected.

Hydration - How do you rate your pet’s interest in water and its level of hydration?

Selected Value: 5

1: Appears dehydrated and/or has no interest in drinking the majority of the time. 5: Drinks water occasionally and/or struggles with water intake occasionally. 10: No abnormalities with water intake or desire to drink water.

Hygeine - How would you rate your pet’s hygiene?

Selected Value: 5

1: Coat and appearance is poorly maintained and is hard to help maintain. 5: Hygiene is managed with help from his/her primary care taker. 10: Coat appears healthy and he/she doesn’t appear to have issues keeping clean.

Happiness - How would you rate your pet’s overall happiness?

Selected Value: 5

1: Appears depressed or anxious the majority of the time. 5: Has some moments of joy interspersed with boredom and/or anxiety. 10: Appears happy and stimulated by his/her surroundings all of the time.

Mobility - How do you rate your pet’s mobility?

Selected Value: 5

1: Unable to move/get up without assistance. 5: Able to get up but struggles to walk without obvious pain. 10: Able to walk without assistance and without obvious difficulty.

More good days than bad days - Use the scale to rate how consistently your pet has more good days than bad days.

Selected Value: 5

1: Has more bad days than good days. 5: Even amount of good days to bad days. 10: Mostly to all good days over bad days.

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