Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years old. Understanding quality of life assessment and palliative care enables welfare-centered decision-making throughout cancer treatment.
Cancer treatment decisions in dogs require continuous welfare assessment because the goal is not simply extending life but maintaining quality of life throughout whatever time remains. Chemotherapy in dogs is generally well-tolerated at doses calibrated to maintain quality of life rather than achieve cure, unlike human oncology. Osteosarcoma causes such severe bone pain that amputation - even in older dogs - often dramatically improves welfare in the weeks before systemic disease advances. Regular quality of life scoring enables owners to make euthanasia decisions based on welfare evidence rather than emotional difficulty, serving the dog's interests above all.