Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years. Welfare-centred approaches to cancer treatment balance the benefits of treatment against quality of life throughout the process.
Canine cancer treatment raises welfare questions at every stage: the decision to pursue aggressive treatment versus palliative care, the welfare burden of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation during treatment, and the recognition of when euthanasia becomes the most welfare-positive option. The welfare framework that serves dogs best is honest evaluation of quality of life throughout treatment: monitoring whether the dog can engage in activities they enjoy, whether pain is controlled, and whether treatment side effects outweigh the benefits of disease control. Canine chemotherapy, when appropriately dosed, causes far fewer severe side effects than human protocols and is often well tolerated. Palliative care that maximises comfort and positive experiences for the remaining time is the appropriate choice when cure is not possible. Supporting owners through these decisions with honest welfare guidance is among the most important roles of veterinary oncology.