Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years old. Navigating treatment decisions requires balancing welfare, quality of life, and realistic outcome expectations.
Dog cancer presents some of the most difficult welfare decisions in companion animal medicine. Treatment decisions must weigh potential benefit against quality of life impacts, with realistic assessment of prognosis. A dog cannot consent to treatment and cannot communicate clearly about suffering. Welfare-centered decision-making focuses on maintaining quality of life — the ability to enjoy food, social interaction, exercise, and freedom from pain — rather than maximizing survival time at any welfare cost. Palliative care and timely euthanasia are welfare-positive choices when appropriate.