Quality-adjusted life year (QALY) is a widely used metric in human health economics that combines both quantity and quality of life into a single figure. A QALY is calculated by multiplying the time spent in a given health state by a utility representing the quality of this state, where 0 equals death and 1 represents perfect health. This allows the comparison of medical interventions regarding life expectancy and quality of life. QALYs are the basis of cost-utility analyses and support allocation decisions in human health care when resources are limited. While the concept has been extensively applied in human medicine, it has not been widely adopted in veterinary medicine yet. However, growing interest in animal welfare and quality of life has prompted researchers to explore how the QALY concept might be adapted for use in animals. The dog health utility index (DHUI) is an early step in creating a QALY-like measure that can be applied when evaluating treatments. If such tools would become validated and commonly used, they could offer valuable insights into which interventions provide the greatest benefit to companion animals and livestock, helping professionals set priorities and make informed decisions in animal health care.