End-of-life care for dogs requires welfare-centred decisions about palliative care, quality of life assessment, and timing of euthanasia. Understanding the ethical framework protects dog welfare.
Canine end-of-life welfare centres on the principle that a good death is an integral part of a good life. The welfare responsibility to prevent unnecessary suffering does not end with the diagnosis of an incurable condition but continues through to a peaceful and timely death. Palliative care that maintains comfort and positive daily experiences extends quality life meaningfully, but its limits must be honestly assessed. The widespread tendency to delay euthanasia beyond the point of reasonable quality of life, motivated by owner attachment and grief, causes preventable suffering that represents a failure of welfare-centred care. Veterinary teams that develop trusting relationships with owners and provide honest, compassionate quality of life guidance enable better welfare-centred decisions at this most difficult stage of companion animal care.