Pet ownership is widespread in the US, as the American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that approximately 38% of households have a dog and about 1 in 4 households have a cat. These lovely pets are important members of the families to which they belong, providing companionship, entertainment, exercise, love and comfort.
Keeping a pet can be a lot of fun, but as pets reach their golden years, they need a lot of health care to stay healthy and happy. While pet ownership has expanded in recent years, the number of qualified people available to treat pets has decreased significantly. In addition to limited access to health care, pet guardians may be faced with difficult, often heartbreaking decisions as their pets age.
Native Pet compiled a list of recommendations from specialist and veterinary resources to evaluate the quality of life of aging pets. Pet owners put a lot of time and energy into caring for their animal companions, wanting their pets to live as long as possible. Still, their decisions must factor into their pet’s daily quality of life; how do health decisions affect essential health, comfort, and happiness? Other factors to consider include the amount of pain or discomfort they are experiencing and what activities they may need to give up. In addition to these points, the quality of life standard can be a helpful tool to help you understand how your pet may be feeling.
