Cancer is a leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years old, but early detection dramatically improves treatment success rates and quality of life during illness.
Canine cancer causes significant welfare compromise through pain, systemic illness, and the distress of repeated treatment. Early detection is the most powerful intervention available: tumours identified at early stages are more often curable, less aggressive in their spread, and may require less intensive treatment with better quality-of-life outcomes during therapy. Owner education is the foundation of early detection — teaching owners to perform regular at-home body checks and recognise warning signs including unexplained weight loss, persistent lumps, difficulty eating, or lethargy. Veterinary annual health checks from middle age onwards complement owner monitoring and enable professional assessment of subtle changes.