As your companion approaches their later years, making difficult decisions about their care and end-of-life journey can be heartbreaking. At Lifting Stars Veterinary Homecare, we understand that one of the hardest parts of this phase is knowing when it might be time to say goodbye. A helpful tool that can guide you through this emotional process is creating a journal of your pet’s good and bad days, helping to track their progress over time and providing you with clear insights into their quality of life.
The goal of starting a “Daily Journal of Good and Bad Days” is simple: it allows you to document your pet’s day-to-day experience, giving you a comprehensive view of how they are truly doing. Often, as loving pet owners, we find ourselves focusing more on the positive moments, such as when our pet seems to perk up for a treat or enjoys a scratch behind the ears. But those moments, while precious, are just snapshots of the bigger picture. A daily journal helps you see past the ups and downs, providing a clearer understanding of their overall well-being. It helps you see the bad and questionable days from the good days.
Here’s how it works: each day, note how your pet is doing—both the good and the bad. For example, Comet, a 13-year-old dog, may struggle with mobility but still perks up at mealtime or when his family comes home. While those moments bring joy, they can’t overshadow the overall struggle he faces. On the other hand, Sparkles, an 18-year-old cat, may be dealing with chronic kidney disease. Though she still purrs when scratched, those moments are brief, and the rest of her day is spent lethargic and uninterested in her surroundings.
By writing down both the positive and negative aspects of your pet’s day, you begin to see a clearer picture of their health. Over time, this is going to help you identify trends that might otherwise go unnoticed, helping you make more informed decisions. For example, if you notice that the “bad” days are starting to outnumber the “good” ones, or if your pet’s struggles are becoming more frequent, it might be time to have a conversation with your veterinarian. This journal is not just a log—it’s a compassionate way of tracking your pet’s journey, ensuring that every aspect of their well-being is taken into account.
A crucial aspect of this journal is that it helps remove the bias we all naturally have as pet owners. It can be easy to hold on to the moments of tail wags or the warmth of a purr and ignore the more challenging signs. But by keeping a daily record, you are better equipped to see the full picture. And when the time comes to make that difficult decision, you’ll have a comprehensive, objective account of your pet’s life to guide you.
It’s also important to keep in mind that this journal, along with other tools like the Lifting Stars “Quality of Life Scale” and the “Favourite Things” list, can help provide context when assessing your pet’s quality of life. These tools can work in tandem, offering a complete picture of what your pet is going through on a daily basis. By recognizing trends and identifying patterns, you can more confidently advocate for your pet and ensure they receive the best care possible.
And most importantly, the journal helps you to celebrate your pet’s life, acknowledging both the challenges and the moments of joy. Yes, there will be difficult days ahead, but each tail wag, purr, or moment of connection with your pet is part of their unique journey—and your journal will capture those moments, guiding you through the process of making the best decision for them.
If you’re ready to start your own journal, we’ve created a free downloadable resource for you to track your pet’s days and assess their well-being. You can find it here: Lifting Stars Quality of Life Journal.
In the end, this journal isn’t just about tracking your pet’s decline; it’s about cherishing the love and life you’ve shared, and making sure their final days are filled with dignity, compassion, and the best possible care. Together with your veterinarian and your Lifting Stars team, this tool can help guide you through a process that’s never easy, but always done with love.