Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years of age. Pain management during cancer treatment significantly affects quality of life and welfare of affected animals.
Cancer pain management in companion animals requires proactive and multimodal approaches because cancer causes multiple types of pain that single-drug therapy cannot fully address. Veterinary oncology has advanced rapidly, but pain management gaps persist particularly in practices without specialist access. Owner advocacy for adequate pain control and regular quality-of-life assessment together reduce cancer suffering significantly.