This study examined bereaved owners’ perceptions of a “good death” for companion animals, their evaluations of veterinary professionals’ responses during the end-of-life period, and associations with grief. An online survey was conducted among 500 adults who had lost a primarily indoor dog or cat within the previous two years. Participants evaluated 10 exploratory elements of a “good death”. Among 401 participants who had contact with a veterinarian or veterinary nurse during the end-of-life period, veterinary professionals’ responses were assessed using 10 items. Grief was measured using a modified Japanese version of the Inventory of Complicated Grief. Eight elements were considered important by at least 90% of participants. Although 96.0% considered minimal physical suffering important, 43.3% of these participants perceived that it had not been achieved. Veterinary professionals’ responses were generally evaluated positively; however, 44.1% negatively evaluated the provision of information about coping with pet loss and available support services. Multiple regression analyses showed that more positive evaluations of veterinary professionals were associated with a lower non-achievement rate for a “good death”. A higher non-achievement rate was associated with stronger grief, whereas veterinary professionals’ response scores were not directly associated with grief. Supporting individualized end-of-life preferences, alleviating animal suffering, and providing information about bereavement support may help owners experience a more acceptable end-of-life process.

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To investigate the labeling practices of commercially available cat food, 68 products were purchased and their labeling information was examined. This study analyzed legally mandatory labeling requirements based on the Act on Ensuring the Safety of Pet Animals Food, as well as voluntary labeling items, ingredient list, and allergen-related information. The results showed that legally required items, such as product name and ingredient were labeled in nearly 100% of the samples. In contrast, voluntary labeling items such as the place of manufacturing location and production date, were shown at low rates. This indicates that there are limitations in the transparency of the distribution process. Regarding ingredient composition, most products contained multiple components, with fish and chicken being the major sources of protein. These findings suggest that it is difficult for pet owners to determine the presence or absence of allergens based solely on current labeling. Therefore, comprehensive improvements, including revisions of labeling items and methods, are considered necessary.

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