Understand your pet's quality of life
Quality of life questionnaire
One of the hardest questions pet parents face is knowing when it may be time to say goodbye.
This quality of life questionnaire is designed to help you reflect on your dog or cat's comfort, daily habits, and overall well-being, so you can have more informed conversations with your veterinarian about what your pet may need right now.
Begin questionnaire
this will take ~ 5 minutes.
What Is the Quality of Life Questionnaire?
This tool is adapted from the HHHHHMM Scale, a well-respected quality of life framework developed by veterinary oncologist Dr. Alice Villalobos. It’s used by veterinarians and hospice-trained teams to help pet parents evaluate how their dog or cat is really doing.
The name comes from the core areas it assesses: Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, and More good days than bad.
This quality of life questionnaire is designed to be:
- Simple and quick to complete (under 7 minutes)
- Guided by everyday signs and behaviors you may already notice
- Gentle and not judgmental. This is not a test with a pass or fail
Why Take This Survey?
It helps you reflect without rushing toward a decision
It breaks a difficult emotional question into smaller, observable changes
It helps you notice gradual patterns over time
Thinking about quality of life and timing
If you're not ready to take the questionnaire, or just want to learn more first, we've put together a short guide to help you understand how veterinarians and families think about quality of life and timing.
Recommendations from Vets and Grief Experts
- “Don’t wait for a “crisis” to start tracking. Begin early if your pet is aging or has been diagnosed with a serious illness.”
- “Think about what your pet has always loved (walks, sunbathing, greeting you). If they’re no longer finding joy in those things, it may be time to reflect.”
- “Mark good and bad days on a calendar or journal. Over time, patterns can be easier to see than individual moments.”