Cancer is the leading cause of death in older dogs, and welfare-centered approaches to cancer care emphasize quality of life assessment and palliative care alongside curative treatment options.
Canine cancer welfare requires honest conversations about quality of life that veterinary practice is increasingly equipped to support. The historical approach of pursuing all available treatment options regardless of quality of life impact is giving way to a more nuanced framework where the welfare experience of treatment is weighed against its expected benefit. Chemotherapy in dogs is designed to maintain quality of life — the protocols are deliberately less aggressive than human cancer chemotherapy. Palliative care that focuses on comfort, pain management, and enriched experiences represents a valid and sometimes superior welfare choice compared to aggressive curative treatment. The HHHHHMM quality of life scale — assessing hurt, hunger, hydration, hygiene, happiness, mobility, and more good days than bad — provides a structured tool for monitoring welfare trajectory over time and informing end-of-life decisions.