Almost every family asks the same question, and asks it too late to think clearly. These are the questions we ask you — written down so you can sit with them at home, before the day arrives.
WRITTEN BY THE BOZO WAGS CLINICAL TEAM8 MIN READUPDATED MARCH 2026
There is no test for this. What there is instead is a way of looking at the last seven days honestly, together, and a promise that nobody here will push you in either direction.
The score we work through with you
Score each line out of ten as it actually was this week, not as it was in March. Do it on a Sunday, write the number down, and do it again next Sunday. The trend tells you far more than any single day.
CRITERION
WHAT WE ASK
SCORE 0–10
Hurt
Is pain controlled? Can she breathe easily? Breathlessness scores as pain.
Hunger
Is she eating enough, on her own, without being coaxed or syringed?
Hydration
Drinking, or needing fluids under the skin more than twice a week?
Hygiene
Can she stay clean and dry? Are there sores, or soiling she cannot avoid?
Happiness
Does she still respond to you, to the door, to her own name?
Mobility
Can she get up, get out, get to the tray or the garden without help?
More good days
Over the last week, did good days outnumber bad ones?
56 AND ABOVE
Quality of life is acceptable. Keep scoring weekly.
40 TO 55
Time for a conversation about what we are treating, and why.
UNDER 40
Quality of life is poor. Letting go is a kindness, not a failure.
Four questions that cut through
What did she love doing?
And can she still do any version of it — the walk, the window, the lap, the food?
Who is the treatment for?
Some of what we do at the end is for the family. That is human, and worth naming out loud.
What would a bad day look like?
Decide now what you will not let her go through. Then you are not deciding it at 2am
Is waiting for a sign a plan?
Many pets never give one. Waiting for certainty usually means waiting past the right moment.
How the day goes
Not knowing what happens makes it worse. So, plainly:
1
We talk first
In a room, with the door closed, for as long as you need. Nothing is booked until you say so. Bringing one more person helps.
2
Sedation
A small injection, and she goes to sleep in your lap or on her own blanket. This part takes a few minutes and is not distressing.
3
The moment itself
An overdose of anaesthetic into a vein. It is quick — usually under a minute — and painless. You can hold her, or step out. Both are normal.
4
Time afterwards
The room is yours for as long as you want it. There is no queue behind you and no paperwork in the doorway.
5
Aftercare, your choice
Cremation with ashes returned, cremation without, or taking her home. We will explain each and arrange it — you do not have to make calls.
Before that, there is a lot we can do
Palliative care is not giving up. Pain relief that is actually reviewed, appetite support, fluids at home, a non-slip route to the door, litter trays with a lower lip. Weeks of comfortable time are often available, and worth having.
Pain, properly managed
Reviewed every few weeks, not prescribed once. Arthritis, cancer pain and breathlessness all have options.
Home visits where we can
For a cat who finds the car unbearable, or a large dog who can no longer be lifted.
Grief is not silly
Take the day off. Tell people. If it stays heavy for months, that is worth talking to someone about.
YOU CAN JUST ASK
A conversation costs nothing, and it is easier than you think.
Call and say you would like to talk about how she is doing. We will make time, and there is no decision to make in that appointment.