Dog quality of life calculator
The HHHHHMM scale that veterinarians use in hospice and end-of-life care, as a weekly tracker. Score each item from 0 (worst) to 10 (ideal), save the result, and watch the trend rather than a single number.
- Lowest scores, what to raise first
- Scored 3 or undernone
| Date | Score | Lowest item |
|---|
Scores are stored only in this browser; nothing is sent anywhere. Score on the same day each week: the trend matters more than any single number.
How to use it
- Score weekly, same day, same way. A single score is a snapshot; five scores are a direction.
- Involve the household. Different people notice different things.
- Bring the two lowest items to your vet. They turn "she seems a bit off" into something a clinician can act on, often with a medication change that raises the score again.
- Decide your lines in advance while things are stable. Decisions made in a crisis at 2 a.m. are the ones people regret.
What the score means
The scale's author considers a total above 35 an acceptable quality of life. Breathing difficulty and uncontrolled pain outrank everything else, so a low Hurt score is a same-day call to your vet whatever the total. When bad days outnumber good days in a week, quality of life is compromised even if the other items look fine. The guide to the scale explains each item and how vets use it.
It cannot examine your dog. Many low scores have a treatable cause. Share the numbers with your veterinarian; many clinics offer palliative care and home visits.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good quality of life score for a dog?
On the HHHHHMM scale each of seven items is scored 0 to 10, for a maximum of 70. Its author, veterinary oncologist Dr Alice Villalobos, describes a total above 35 as an acceptable quality of life. The trend over weeks matters more than one number, and a very low score on pain or breathing matters more than the total.
How do I know when it is time to put my dog down?
There is rarely a single moment, which is why vets use structured scales. Two markers most use: more bad days than good in a week, and the loss of the things that made your dog themselves (eating, greeting you, wanting to go out). Score weekly, share the numbers with your vet, and decide your lines in advance while things are stable. Asking early is not the same as deciding.
Is this scale used by veterinarians?
Yes. The HHHHHMM scale (Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, More good days than bad) was published for veterinary hospice use in 2004 and is widely used in palliative care and end-of-life consultations. This page is a tool for tracking; your vet interprets it for your dog.
What can raise a low score?
Most low scores point at something fixable: pain control that is not enough, nausea, a bed that is hard to get out of, slippery floors, a coat that needs clipping, food that needs warming or hand feeding. Bring the two lowest items to your vet; a medication change often raises the score again.
Does this tool store my answers?
Only in your own browser, if you press save. Nothing is sent to us or anyone else. Clear the saved scores with the button under the table.
Sources
- Villalobos A. Quality of life scale (HHHHHMM) for companion animals. Veterinary Practice News. 2004. pawspice.com/q-of-l-care/new-page.html
- Creevy KE, Grady J, Little SE, et al. 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. 2019;55(6):267-290. www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/