Cancer is the leading cause of death in older dogs. Welfare-centred cancer management balances treatment benefit against side effects, prioritising quality of life throughout.
Dog cancer welfare requires honest, compassionate decision-making throughout the treatment journey. The welfare question is never simply "can we treat?" but "does treatment improve or maintain quality of life compared with palliation?" Veterinary oncology has made remarkable advances, and many dogs tolerate chemotherapy well. But some cancers have poor prognoses, and aggressive treatment buys limited time at the cost of side effects. Welfare-centred oncology involves frank prognostic discussions, regular quality of life assessment, excellent pain management, and support for owners facing extraordinarily difficult decisions. Euthanasia is always part of the welfare toolkit.