Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years, and navigating treatment decisions while maintaining quality of life requires careful welfare assessment.
Canine cancer welfare requires balancing treatment benefit against treatment burden in the context of the individual animal's quality of life. Unlike human cancer treatment, the goal in veterinary oncology may be life extension with good quality rather than maximum life extension at any cost. Dogs in palliative care receiving comfort-focused treatment rather than aggressive curative treatment often have better short-term quality of life. Regular quality of life assessment — using validated tools — should guide treatment decisions. Euthanasia when quality of life is poor is a welfare act, not a failure. Owners need honest, evidence-based prognostic information to make decisions aligned with their dog's welfare.