Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over 2 years of age. Supporting dogs through diagnosis and treatment requires integrating quality-of-life assessment with treatment decision-making throughout the process.
A cancer diagnosis demands honest assessment of whether treatment serves the dog's welfare or the owner's desire to avoid loss. Treatments that produce remission while maintaining quality of life can extend years of comfortable, active living. Treatments that cause severe side effects in pursuit of marginally extended life without quality represent a welfare failure masquerading as care. The concept of quality-adjusted life expectancy — weighing both duration and quality — is the appropriate framework for oncology treatment decisions. Dogs cannot consent to treatment, making owner and veterinarian responsibility for welfare-centered decision-making particularly acute. Palliative care for incurable cancer is a valid, welfare-positive choice that prioritizes comfort over duration.