Helping Families Assess Quality of Life

Assessing the quality of life of a family pet is a delicate balance between managing client emotions, the progression of the disease, and the happiness of the pet. These key issues are not always in harmony and it is the job of the veterinary professional team to manage and balance each party's interests with the natural developments of biology. Understanding common trends in both people and their pets helps better identify their needs, address their concerns, and make a decision that does the "most good" for all involved.

Here's what you'll learn:

  • Learn the 4 budgets for considering quality of life

  • Explore different assessment tools

  • Learn about the ailments which change the progression of quality of life

Course curriculum

    1. Helping Families Assess Quality of Life

    2. QUIZ: Helping Families Assess Quality of Life (Required for RACE CE)

About this course

  • Free
  • 2 lessons
  • 1 hour of video content

Instructor

NoodleU 2025 Professor Dr. Mary Gardner

Old wobbly dogs and skinny cats are my JAM! I adore geriatric pets and the families that care for them. I'm a tech nerd and spent 10 years developing software before becoming a veterinarian in my 30's. I co-founded Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice which provides in-home end of life care services around the country - we currently employ over 380 vets in 35 states. I led the development of our proprietary practice management software as well as an app to assess quality of life, an online hospice journaling software, a crematory management software as well as a platform for teleconsutling between GP vets and Specialists. And when I didn't have anymore space in my life, I opened a pet crematory. Developing tech solutions for the veterinary industry is a passion of mine but at the same time, I love geriatric medicine, hospice and all aspects of end of life care. Hobbies? If I have time, I love playing golf. Otherwise, I look forward to eating pasta as often as possible.