Free, vet-reviewed assessment
Quality of Life Assessment for your pet.
Seven gentle questions. Built to help you put words and a number on what you are seeing, so the conversation with your vet is easier. This is not a diagnosis. It is a starting point.
How the score works
Seven dimensions, scored out of two each.
The HHHHHMM scale was developed by Dr Alice Villalobos, an American veterinary oncologist who pioneered the field of veterinary palliative care. It is widely used by vets to structure end-of-life conversations with families.
Is your pet’s pain well controlled?
Is your pet eating willingly?
Is your pet drinking enough?
Can your pet be kept clean and dry?
Does your pet still find pleasure in life?
Can your pet move around comfortably?
Over the last 7 days, has your pet had more good days than bad ones?
Maximum score is 14. Each answer adds 0, 1 or 2 to the total. We do not diagnose, predict outcomes, or replace your own vet.
What the bands mean
Three calm responses, depending on the score.
Talk to a vet today
A score in this range suggests that quality of life is consistently poor across most of the things that matter to a pet. The kindest path, in our experience, is usually a goodbye soon. This is not a diagnosis: it is a sign that a conversation with a vet today would help you decide. We can talk it through with you, with no obligation.
Worth a conversation
A score in this range suggests quality of life is borderline. Some things are still working, others are slipping. This is the point where many families choose to speak to a vet about the path forward, whether that is adjusting palliative care, planning ahead, or considering when to say goodbye. We are happy to talk it through with you.
Your pet is coping
A score in this range suggests your pet is coping with their current situation. Things can change quickly, so it is worth coming back to this assessment every few days, or sooner if anything noticeable shifts. The threshold to act sits below this score.
The assessment
Seven questions, one at a time.
HHHHHMM scale
Is your pet’s pain well controlled?
Pain in pets is often quiet: hiding, panting at rest, reluctance to be touched, a hunched posture.
Common questions
Is this a diagnosis?
No. This is a structured way to describe what you are seeing. The output is not a medical opinion. It helps you have a clearer conversation with a vet who can examine your pet.
Who reviewed this assessment?
Dr Sinéad Bennett, our Veterinary Director and Clinical Lead (BVM&S BSc MRCVS), reviewed the wording, the scoring bands, and the guidance for each result. The underlying framework is Dr Alice Villalobos’s HHHHHMM scale, linked above.
Should I do this every day?
Once a week is enough for most pets with a chronic condition. If things change quickly, such as a fall, a refused meal, a difficult night, it is worth retaking the assessment to see whether your sense of how things are going has shifted.
What happens if I leave my email?
We store the score against your email so we can send you the result, and so we can check in gently in a few weeks if you would find that helpful. We do not share your email with anyone, we do not use it for marketing, and you can ask us to delete it at any time by emailing hello@vetsathome.com.
Is the assessment free?
Yes. The assessment is free to use as many times as you need. If you would like to speak to one of our team about what the result means, that call is free too.
Your email, if given, is stored so we can send you the result and check in once more in a few weeks. It is never shared with anyone outside Vets at Home and it is never used for marketing. You can ask us to delete it at any time by emailing hello@vetsathome.com. The pet name and pet type, if given, are used only to personalise the result.
How things end matters.
If you would rather talk it through, we are here.
A calm, unhurried conversation with one of our team. No pressure, just help making sense of what you are seeing.