Ralph Pet Apps
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Empowering You to Care for Your Pet with Confidence

Whether your pet is facing a health challenge, entering their senior years, or you simply want better health documentation—Ralph apps give you professional-grade tools to understand and support your pet's wellbeing.

Getting Started Guides

Understanding the HHHHHMM Quality of Life Scale

The HHHHHMM Scale is a veterinary-endorsed tool for assessing pet quality of life. It evaluates six key criteria:

H - Hurt (Pain Management)

Can pain be controlled?

H - Hunger (Eating)

Is appetite adequate?

H - Hydration (Drinking)

Is water intake sufficient?

H - Hygiene (Cleanliness)

Can your pet stay clean and comfortable?

H - Happiness (Joy)

Does your pet express interest and engagement?

M - Mobility

Can your pet move without excessive difficulty?

Plus one overall assessment:

M - More good days than bad?

How to use it:

Rate each criterion daily using the emoji scale in Ralph QoL. Scores are plotted over time, revealing patterns that guide care decisions.

How to Effectively Monitor Lumps at Home

Step-by-Step Lump Checking:

  1. 1. Regular grooming routine: Check your pet weekly during brushing or bathing
  2. 2. Use Pet Lump Tracker's body map: Mark any lumps you find with location
  3. 3. Document with photos: Take clear photos with a ruler or coin for scale
  4. 4. Measure accurately: Record length, width, and height in cm or inches
  5. 5. Note characteristics: Texture (soft/firm/hard), mobility (moveable/fixed), pain level
  6. 6. Check for changes: Update every 1-2 weeks—Pet Lump Tracker will highlight growth
  7. 7. Share with vet: Export PDF report before appointments

⚠️ When to contact your vet immediately:

  • Rapid growth (doubling in size within 1-2 weeks)
  • Bleeding, ulceration, or discharge
  • Sudden pain when touched
  • Change from moveable to fixed
  • Multiple new lumps appearing quickly

Recognizing Pain in Pets

Pets hide pain instinctively. Learn subtle signs:

Physical Signs:

  • Reluctance to jump, climb stairs, or play
  • Limping or stiffness, especially after rest
  • Changes in posture (hunched, tense)
  • Excessive grooming or licking one area
  • Panting when not hot or exercised

Behavioral Changes:

  • Withdrawal from family interaction
  • Decreased appetite
  • Restlessness or inability to get comfortable
  • Aggression when touched (unusual for your pet)
  • Vocalization (whimpering, growling, hissing)

💡 Pro Tip: Track these signs in Ralph QoL's "Pain" criterion to show your vet patterns over time.

When to Use Which App

Scenario 1: Cancer Diagnosis

"My 12-year-old dog was just diagnosed with cancer. We're starting chemotherapy next week."

→ Use Ralph QoL to track daily comfort and quality of life throughout treatment.

Scenario 2: Found a Lump

"I found a lump on my cat's leg during grooming."

→ Use Pet Lump Tracker to document location, take photos, and monitor for growth.

Scenario 3: Senior Pet with Multiple Conditions

"My senior dog has arthritis, kidney disease, and we're monitoring several lumps."

→ Use Pet Wellbeing Hub with all modules unlocked (€2.50/month) for comprehensive tracking.

Scenario 4: Post-Surgery Monitoring

"My pet just had surgery to remove a mass. I need to track healing."

→ Use Pet Lump Tracker to document surgical site with photos and healing progress.

Scenario 5: Multiple Symptoms to Track

"I want to track multiple symptoms—vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy—to show my vet."

→ Use Pet Wellbeing Hub's Symptom Module (free to track symptoms alone).

Communicating with Your Vet Using Ralph

Before the Appointment

  1. 1. Export PDF report from your chosen app
  2. 2. Select relevant date range (usually last 30-90 days)
  3. 3. Review the report yourself—note any questions
  4. 4. Email to vet's office 24-48 hours ahead (if possible)

During the Appointment

  • Have report on your phone or printed
  • Use visual charts to highlight trends
  • Show specific photo comparisons (lumps, condition changes)
  • Let data inform the conversation, not dominate it

After the Appointment

  • Add vet's diagnosis or recommendations to notes in app
  • Set reminders for medication or recheck appointments
  • Continue tracking to monitor treatment effectiveness

Connect with Other Ralph Users

While we don't have an official forum yet, many Ralph users find support in:

Reddit

r/petloss, r/seniordogs, r/seniorpets

Facebook

Pet palliative care groups, breed-specific health groups

Instagram

Follow @ralph_app for weekly tips and community stories