Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in dogs, and chemotherapy with appropriate supportive care can achieve meaningful quality of life improvements during remission.
Canine lymphoma progresses rapidly without treatment - dogs can deteriorate from apparently normal to severely ill within weeks. Chemotherapy provides a meaningful extension of comfortable life in the majority of affected dogs. Unlike human cancer treatment, dogs on chemotherapy typically maintain appetite, energy, and social engagement during remission. The welfare case for treatment is strong when quality of life is monitored and maintained. Palliative prednisone alone provides shorter, more modest benefit for owners unable to pursue full chemotherapy.