FureverSong Memorial songs

Is it time? A gentle check

Dog quality of life scale

Score the seven areas this vet-designed scale looks at, from pain to good days, in about two minutes. Track how the days go, and print it for your vet. It works for cats too, and what you type stays on your device unless you choose to start a song.

If your dog is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, or is in pain you can’t ease right now, call your vet or an emergency clinic now. This page can wait.

Score the seven areas

Think about the last few days, not the best or worst moment. 0 is the worst, 10 is the best.

Move each slider to score it.

Today’s score for your dog

0out of 70

    Questions to ask your vet

      Log today: good or bad day?

      Saved on this phone with today’s date, so you can score again in a few days and see the change.

      This is a way to put what you see into words, not a diagnosis. Your vet knows your dog and can examine them.

      Good days and bad days

      Keep a simple day log

      Vets often suggest marking each day as good or bad. Patterns are easier to see on paper than in your head, especially when you’re tired and worried. Tap a day once for good, twice for bad.

      Good dayBad dayNot logged

      Print it for the fridge

      Five weeks to tick by hand, so everyone at home can fill it in, with what your dog loves most and when to call the vet. Page two is a score sheet for your vet. Days you’ve ticked here are already filled in.

      Their favorite things

      What does your dog love most?

      Write down three to five things that make them who they are: a walk, a toy, a sunny spot, greeting you at the door. Tick the ones they can still enjoy. When most of the list is gone, many families feel that tells them something.

      While they’re still here

      Things I never want to forget about your dog

      The sound they make when you come home, where they always sleep, the look they give you. Write them down now, while you can watch them do it. On the hard days it helps to read them.

      Kept on this device only.

      How do you know when it’s time to put your dog down?

      Almost everyone asks this, and almost no one gets a clear sign. What vets look for is a pattern:

      No single one of these decides it. Scoring the seven areas above every few days turns a fog of worry into something you can look at with your vet. Many people say afterwards that they waited too long, hoping for one more good day (Ohio State’s booklet says the same). A peaceful goodbye while there is still some comfort is a kind thing to give.

      About the HHHHHMM scale

      The scale was created by veterinary oncologist Dr. Alice Villalobos for pets in hospice care, and published in Canine and Feline Geriatric Oncology (Villalobos & Kaplan, Blackwell, 2007). It scores seven areas from 0 to 10:

      In Dr. Villalobos’s scale, a total over 35 out of 70 is an acceptable quality of life to continue comfort care. Trouble breathing outweighs everything else. Limited mobility on its own can still be a good life if your pet is alert, happy and you can help them. The descriptions on this page are our own plain-language guide; the scale and its scoring are hers.

      Other good places to read

      FureverSong makes memorial songs for pets. We are not vets. This page is a way to organize what you see, so you can talk it through with yours.

      When the time comes

      Dog memorial ideasPaw prints, their collar, ashes and small rituals A poem for your dogWritten from your memories, free Songs for a dog that passed awayFor a slideshow or a goodbye A memorial cardTheir photo, name and dates to print

      Questions

      How do I know when it’s time to put my dog down?

      There is rarely one clear sign. Vets look at whether pain and breathing can be kept comfortable, whether your dog still eats, drinks, stays clean and moves well enough, whether they still enjoy their life, and whether bad days have started to outnumber good ones. Scoring those areas every few days and talking it through with your vet is the most reliable way to see the picture.

      What is the HHHHHMM quality of life scale?

      A scale created by veterinary oncologist Dr. Alice Villalobos. It scores seven areas from 0 to 10: Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, and More good days than bad. The highest possible total is 70.

      What quality of life score means it’s time?

      In Dr. Villalobos’s scale, a total over 35 is considered an acceptable quality of life to continue comfort (hospice) care. A total of 35 or lower suggests it may no longer be. The total is a guide, not a verdict: a very low score for pain or breathing matters more than the total, and your vet can help you read it.

      Is it better to be too early than too late?

      Many vets and families say so. A common regret people describe afterwards is waiting too long, hoping for one more good day. There is no perfect day, and choosing a peaceful goodbye while your dog still has some comfort is an act of love.

      Should I let my dog pass naturally at home?

      Some pets do pass peacefully, but a natural death can also bring pain, distress or struggling to breathe. Talk to your vet about hospice care and about in-home euthanasia, so you know your options before a crisis.

      Can euthanasia be done at home?

      Yes. In many areas a vet can come to your home, so your dog can be in their own bed with their family around them. Ask your vet, or search for in-home pet euthanasia near you.

      Does this quality of life scale work for cats?

      Yes. The scale was made for both dogs and cats. Cats hide pain well, so watch for hiding, sitting hunched, not grooming and not using the litter box.

      Should I stay with my dog during euthanasia?

      It is your choice, and either choice is all right. Many people find comfort in being there and talking to their dog, and vets are used to both.