When treating dogs with cancer, quality of life assessment throughout the treatment process ensures welfare is maintained and informs decisions about continuing or stopping treatment.
Cancer treatment welfare in dogs requires consistent attention to whether treatment is serving the dog's quality of life rather than simply extending time. A dog experiencing significant treatment side effects may have a worse welfare experience during treatment than with palliative care focused on comfort. The welfare goal is not maximum lifespan but maximum quality of life across however long remains. This requires regular honest assessment of treatment response and side effects, willingness to adjust or discontinue treatment when welfare is compromised, and proactive side effect management when treatment continues. Veterinary oncologists increasingly frame treatment success in quality of life terms alongside remission rates.