Cancer is a leading cause of death in older dogs, and effective pain management is essential to preserving quality of life during treatment and end-of-life care.
Cancer causes significant pain that is frequently undertreated in companion dogs. Bone cancer (osteosarcoma) causes some of the most intense, unrelenting pain in veterinary medicine — the constant ache punctuated by acute flares of movement-related pain severely impacts quality of life. Internal tumors causing organ compression, ulceration, or bleeding create pain that may go unrecognized for extended periods. Neuropathic pain from nerve involvement is particularly difficult to manage. Owners often accept deteriorating quality of life as "just aging" without recognizing pain as treatable. Veterinary palliative care has advanced significantly — multimodal analgesia combining NSAIDs, opioids, gabapentin, and other agents can provide meaningful comfort. Knowing when curative treatment transitions to palliative goals requires honest quality-of-life assessment.