Osteosarcoma is the most common bone tumor in dogs, causing severe pain that requires aggressive palliative management to maintain quality of life whether or not curative treatment is pursued.
Osteosarcoma pain management is one of the most urgent welfare challenges in veterinary oncology. The severity of bone tumor pain requires proactive, aggressive analgesia rather than incremental dose titration. Dogs with undertreated osteosarcoma experience severe chronic pain that profoundly limits quality of life. The welfare decision framework for osteosarcoma involves honest assessment of treatment burden versus benefit, pain control adequacy, and quality of life indicators. Euthanasia before pathological fracture and before pain becomes poorly controlled is an important welfare consideration that requires preparation and courage from owners.