Cancer is the leading cause of death in older dogs, and managing the welfare of dogs with cancer requires careful attention to pain management, quality of life assessment, and end-of-life decisions.
Managing cancer in dogs involves complex welfare trade-offs between treatment burden, quality of life, and duration of life. Unlike human cancer patients, dogs cannot understand why they feel unwell or what treatment aims to achieve. This means treatment decisions must be made by owners with veterinary guidance, always centering the dog experience rather than human emotional needs. Aggressive treatment that extends life but causes significant suffering from side effects represents a welfare harm. Conversely, undertreated pain in a dog with cancer also causes ongoing suffering. High-quality palliative care focused on comfort, pain management, and maintaining positive experiences is a valid and often welfare-superior approach to attempting cure.