Quality of Life Scale

By: Dr. Alice Villalobos

Click here to download Dr. Villalobos' Quality of Life Scale

*Quality of Life Scale₁* The HHHHHMM Scale
Pet caregivers can use this Quality of Life Scale to determine the success of pawspice care. Score patients using a scale of 1 to 10.
Score	Criterion
H: 0 - 10	HURT - Adequate pain control, including breathing ability, is first and foremost on the scale. Is the pet's pain successfully managed? Is oxygen necessary?
H: 0 - 10	HUNGER - Is the pet eating enough? Does hand feeding help? Does the patient require a feeding tube?
H: 0 - 10	HYDRATION - Is the patient dehydrated? For patients not drinking enough, use subcutaneous fluids once or twice daily to supplement fluid intake.
H: 0 - 10	HYGIENE - The patient should be brushed and cleaned, particularly after elmination. Avoid pressure sores and keep all wounds clean.
H: 0 - 10	HAPPINESS - Does the pet express joy and interest? Is the pet responsive to things around him or her (family, toys, etc.)? Is the pet depressed, lonely, anxious, bored or afraid? Can the pet's bed be close to the family activities and not be isolated?
M: 0 - 10	MOBILITY - Can the patient get up without assistance? Does the pet need human or mechanical help (e.g. a cart)? Does the pet feel like going for a walk? Is the pet having seizures or stumbling? (Some caregivers feel euthanasia is preferable to amputation, yet an animal who has limited mobility but is still alert and responsive can have a good quality of life as long as caregivers are committed to helping the pet.)
M: 0 - 10	MORE GOOD DAYS THAN BAD - When bad days outnumber good days, quality of life might be compromised. When a healthy human-animal bond is no longer possible, the caregiver must be made aware the end is near. The decision needs to be made if the pet is suffering. If death comes peacefully and painlessly, that is okay.
*TOTAL=	*A total >35 points is acceptable for a good pawspice

1.Adapted by Villalobos, A.E., Quality of Life Scale Helps Make Final Call, VPN,
09/2004,for Canine and Feline Geriatric Oncology Honoring the Human-Animal
Bond, by Blackwell Publishing, Table 10.1, released 2006.

Give us your opinion on
Quality of Life Scale

Industry Professional Site: Comments from non-industry professionals will be removed.

Reader Comments

To Diane- I've been assist-feeding my 12-year old Tortie, Bella, for almost 2 months. She's got kidney disease as well as an infection that makes her not want to eat. Except for the lack of interest in food, her interest in life is great - she begs for treats, goes outside by our pool (we're in Florida), plays with her "sister", and looks for attention. I don't believe her quality of life is compromised by me feeding her 3x a day. She enjoys it - sits on my husband's lap and takes it all in. It's a special bonding time for us.

Jill, PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL
Posted: 12/29/2011 2:29:51 PM

If an animal can't eat on its own and must be force fed, is that quality of life really on a par with being able to eat unassisted? We are in that situation now with a 15 year old cat in kidney failure who can't eat but is still fairly active and is letting me syringe feed her 3 x a day.

Diane, Redondo Beach, CA
Posted: 12/23/2011 4:14:36 PM

Doesn't say what the scale is from 1-10. Does the higher the score mean the closer to the end of life the pet is? What is "Pawspice"?

Lynn, Kent, WA
Posted: 6/14/2011 11:54:10 AM

Great scale, but "pawspice"? Really? What does this mean - is it some cutesy term that is supposed to represent "hospice"? That's the only meaning I can make of it. But hospice is, in and of itself, a very good word for end of life care. Please, keep it professional, especially on such a weighty subject.

Sylvie, Olympia, WA
Posted: 5/30/2011 8:16:06 AM

var addthis_pub = 'animalnetwork'; Quality of Life Scale

By: Dr. Alice Villalobos

Quality of Life Scale