How to maintain quality of life for dogs living with cancer, balancing treatment, comfort, and end-of-life decision-making.
Cancer in dogs confronts owners with some of the most difficult welfare decisions in veterinary medicine. The range of outcomes is enormous — from highly curable cancers like mast cell tumours at low grade, to rapidly progressive cancers where palliation is the primary goal. The central welfare principle across all cases is quality of life: can the dog eat with pleasure, engage in activities that matter to them, experience comfort, and participate in their social relationships? When cancer treatment enables these things, it is welfare-positive. When treatment imposes suffering without genuine quality of life benefit, compassionate focus shifts to comfort care and, ultimately, to a well-timed peaceful death.