Decision Support Tool

Pet Quality of Life Calculator

Based on the HHHHHMM Scale by Dr. Alice Villalobos, a quality-of-life assessment used by veterinarians worldwide.

Take a quiet moment to honestly check in on how your companion is doing. There are no wrong answers, just an honest look.

How to fill it

Think about your pet's condition over the past week. Slide each dimension to the most fitting number, using the guide below each slider. The total score and interpretation appear automatically below.

1 Hurt / Pain

How physically comfortable your pet is, including the ability to breathe easily.

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8–10Normal activity, relaxed posture, comfortable when touched, breathing steady.

4–7Pain managed with medication. Occasional whimpering, restlessness, or repositioning.

1–3Constant moaning, rapid/shallow breathing, refuses touch, rigid posture.

2 Hunger / Appetite

Ability and desire to eat independently in adequate portions.

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8–10Eats normal portions on own, excited at meal times.

4–7Eats small amounts, needs coaxing or only favorite foods.

1–3Refuses all food, needs force-feeding or a feeding tube.

3 Hydration

Hydration status. Check gums (moist/dry), eyes (bright/sunken), and skin elasticity with a gentle pinch. Note: the skin tent test is less reliable in thin/senior cats (may persist even when well-hydrated) and overweight cats (may stay elastic despite dehydration), so always confirm with gums and eyes.

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8–10Moist pink gums, skin snaps back quickly when pinched, bright eyes.

4–7Mild dehydration, needs subcutaneous fluids or regular coaxing to drink.

1–3Severe dehydration: sunken eyes, dry tacky gums, slow skin return.

4 Hygiene

Ability to stay clean and free from bed sores or skin irritation.

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8–10Clean, well-groomed coat, no sores, no odor, eliminates in appropriate places.

4–7Needs help being cleaned, occasionally soiled, coat appears dull.

1–3Frequently soiled with urine/feces, bed sores or skin infections, strong odor.

5 Happiness

Emotional engagement, whether they still enjoy interactions, play, and their favorite things.

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8–10Excited when you arrive, plays, or is petted. Tail wags or purrs, expressive.

4–7Responsive when approached but does not initiate. Sometimes apathetic, sleeps more.

1–3Avoids interaction, hides, shows no interest in anything, including the owner.

6 Mobility

Ability to move, stand, and reposition as they wish, on their own.

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8–10Walks, climbs up and down, stands on own without significant difficulty.

4–7Walks slowly and briefly, needs help climbing or standing up.

1–3Cannot stand alone, mostly lying down, needs to be carried to move.

7 More Good Days

In the past week, weigh the good days (comfortable, responsive) against the bad days (suffering, disengaged).

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8–10Almost every day looks comfortable and engaged with their surroundings.

4–7Good and bad days are balanced; hard to predict how today will go.

1–3Almost every day shows suffering; good days have become the exception.

Total Score

35/70

This calculator is an aid, not a medical diagnosis. Final decisions (including end-of-life care) must always be discussed directly with a vet who has examined your pet.

Discuss Results with a Vet