Pet Quality-of-Life Calculator
Score your dog or cat from 0 to 10 across the seven areas vets use — the HHHHHMM scale — and see where things stand. A total above roughly 35 out of 70 suggests a quality of life worth continuing to support. It's a way to turn a wave of emotion into something you can look at with your vet. It is not a verdict.
What the seven areas mean
The scale was created by veterinary oncologist Dr. Alice Villalobos. Each area is scored 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal):
| Measure (score 0–10) | What it asks | A low score looks like | A high score looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurt | Is pain controlled? Is breathing easy? | Uncontrolled pain or labored breathing | Comfortable, breathing easily |
| Hunger | Is your pet eating enough? | Won't eat, or needs a feeding tube | Eats willingly |
| Hydration | Is your pet drinking / staying hydrated? | Dehydrated, needs fluids under the skin | Well hydrated |
| Hygiene | Can they be kept clean and sore-free? | Soiled, matted, or developing pressure sores | Clean and comfortable |
| Happiness | Do they still show interest and joy? | Withdrawn, unresponsive, or afraid | Engaged and responsive |
| Mobility | Can they move, with or without help? | Cannot rise or move without distress | Gets around well enough to do what they need |
| More good days than bad | Over the past week, did good days win? | Bad days clearly outnumber good | Good days clearly outnumber bad |
Score each measure from 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal) and add them up. A total above roughly 35 out of 70 suggests a quality of life still worth supporting; a consistently lower total, or a very low score on pain or breathing alone, is a signal to talk with your vet. It's a conversation-starter, not a verdict.
How to use it
Score honestly, ideally over several days rather than one hard moment, and have more than one person in the household score on their own. Watching the trend — is the total drifting down week over week? — tells you more than any single day. A very low score in any one area, especially pain or breathing, matters on its own, whatever the total.
What your score means
Above roughly 35 out of 70 suggests a quality of life worth continuing to support with good care. A consistently lower total is a signal to talk with your vet soon. But the number is a conversation-starter, not a decision — the choice is always yours and your vet's together. If you'd like more on weighing it, see our guides on when it's time to put your dog down and the signs of decline in dogs and cats.
Quality-of-life scale adapted from the HHHHHMM scale by Dr. Alice Villalobos. This tool is general information, not veterinary advice, and can't replace an exam by a vet who knows your pet.
When you're ready, we'll help with what comes next
Free for pet owners · we sell you nothing · no paid listings, no upsells.