Pathway to Care Assessment for Dogs and Cats
When a beloved pet is aging, declining, or facing a serious illness, it can be incredibly hard to know what to do next.
The Pathway to Care Assessment is Caring Pathways’ trusted quality of life assessment tool for dogs and cats. It is designed to help pet owners better understand their pet’s comfort, daily function, and possible next steps in care.
Whether you are beginning to plan ahead, wondering if a consultation would help, or facing the possibility of euthanasia, this assessment can bring more clarity to a very difficult decision.
Takes 5-10 minutes. After submission, you will receive your results by email and be guided to the most appropriate next-step page based on your pet’s assessment.
Before You Begin: Crisis or Emergency Situations
The Pathway to Care Assessment is not intended for emergency situations.
If your pet is experiencing any of the following, please contact your veterinarian or the nearest emergency hospital right away:
- difficulty breathing
- choking
- severe bleeding
- repeated seizures
- inability to urinate or pass stool
- collapse or unconsciousness
- severe vomiting or diarrhea
- suspected heatstroke
- broken bones or sudden inability to use the legs
- any obvious crisis or extreme distress
If your pet is in immediate danger, seek emergency veterinary care now.
What the Pathway to Care Assessment Helps You Understand
Many pet owners come to this page carrying a lot of questions, uncertainty, and grief.
You may be wondering:
- Is my dog’s quality of life getting worse?
- Is my cat still comfortable?
- Are these changes something we can manage with support?
- Is it time to schedule a consultation?
- Are we nearing the point where euthanasia should be considered?
The Pathway to Care Assessment is designed to help you think through those questions in a more structured and thoughtful way.
This tool is not here to pressure you. It is here to help you better understand what your pet may be experiencing right now, and what type of support may make the most sense next.
How the Pathway to Care Assessment Works
The assessment walks you through a series of questions about your pet’s current condition. These questions look at important areas of daily life, such as comfort, mobility, appetite, hydration, behavior, and overall functioning.
After you complete the assessment:
- You will receive an email with your results and helpful resources
- You will be guided to the next page based on your pet’s score and recommended level of support
Depending on the results, your next step may include:
- early care and planning
- a consultation recommendation
- end-of-life care support, including euthanasia guidance
If More Than One Person Helps Care for Your Pet
If more than one person is involved in caring for your pet, it may be helpful for each person to complete the assessment separately.
Different family members often notice different things. One person may see changes in appetite or behavior, while another may notice mobility, breathing, or restlessness. Comparing those perspectives can create a fuller picture and help your family make a more grounded decision together.
Choose the Right Assessment for Your Pet
Dog Pathway to Care Assessment
Choose the dog assessment if you are concerned about your dog’s pain, mobility, breathing, appetite, hydration, behavior, or overall quality of life.
Cat Pathway to Care Assessment
Choose the cat assessment if you are concerned about your cat’s comfort, appetite, hydration, litter box habits, mobility, behavior, or overall quality of life.
Why a Quality of Life Assessment Can Be Helpful
It is one of the hardest parts of loving a pet. Many families feel caught between acting too soon and waiting too long.
A quality of life assessment can help bring structure to a decision that often feels emotional, overwhelming, and unclear. Instead of relying only on fear, guilt, or guesswork, it gives you a chance to slow down and look closely at the day-to-day signs that matter most.
For many families, that clarity can be helpful when a pet is experiencing:
- advanced age
- cancer
- chronic illness
- mobility decline
- ongoing pain
- organ failure
- significant changes in appetite, hydration, or behavior
The Pathway to Care Assessment does not replace veterinary care. It is a tool to help you better understand your pet’s current condition and what type of support may be needed next.
Developed by Caring Pathways
The Pathway to Care Assessment was developed by Caring Pathways’ veterinary professional leaders with many years of experience, education, and leadership in end-of-life care for dogs and cats.
Our work is rooted in comfort care (hospice), palliative care, quality of life support, and in-home euthanasia. This assessment was created to help families better recognize important changes in their pet’s comfort, function, and daily life, and to connect those observations to the most appropriate next step in care.
As this resource continues to evolve, our goal is for the Pathway to Care Assessment to remain a trusted tool for pet families.
What Your Results May Recommend
After completing the Pathway to Care Assessment, you will be directed to one of the following next-step recommendations based on your pet’s score.
Early Care and Planning
Some pets may still have meaningful comfort and stability but would benefit from planning ahead, learning what to watch for, and exploring supportive care options before a crisis develops.
Consultation Recommended
Some pets may be showing signs that a deeper conversation with a veterinarian would be helpful now. This recommendation may point to the need for more guidance around comfort, quality of life, and next care decisions.
Euthanasia Support Recommended
Some pets may be experiencing a level of decline that suggests more immediate end-of-life support should be considered. In these cases, the next step may include learning more about euthanasia, comfort-focused care, and how to make the most compassionate decision possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pathway to Care Assessment?
The Pathway to Care Assessment is Caring Pathways’ quality of life assessment tool for dogs and cats. It helps pet owners better understand their pet’s comfort, daily function, and possible next care options.
Is this a quality of life scale for dogs and cats?
Yes. The Pathway to Care Assessment is designed to function as a structured quality of life assessment for both dogs and cats, helping pet owners evaluate key areas of daily life that often change during illness, decline, or the end-of-life stage.
Can this assessment tell me exactly when it is time for euthanasia?
No single tool can make that decision for you. The Pathway to Care Assessment is meant to provide guidance, clarity, and next-step recommendations based on your pet’s condition. It can help you better understand when a conversation about euthanasia may be appropriate, but it does not replace veterinary judgment or your own relationship with your pet.
Is this a diagnosis?
No. This is not a diagnosis and it is not a substitute for hands-on veterinary care. It is a supportive resource designed to help you better understand your pet’s condition and possible next steps.
Will I receive my results by email?
Yes. After you complete the assessment, you will receive an email with your results and helpful resources related to your recommendation.
Should more than one family member complete the assessment?
That can be very helpful. If multiple people are involved in caring for your pet, having each person complete the assessment separately may bring additional clarity and perspective.
What if my pet is in crisis right now?
Do not use this assessment if your pet is having an active emergency. Contact your veterinarian or the nearest emergency animal hospital immediately.