Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years old, with pain management being a critical component of both treatment and palliative care to maintain quality of life.
Cancer pain in dogs represents one of the most common and serious welfare challenges in companion animal medicine. Osteosarcoma, the most common bone cancer, causes severe progressive bone pain that can be debilitating. Oncological treatment decisions in dogs often balance length of survival against quality of that survival. Palliative care with excellent pain management can provide months of good quality life even in terminal cases. The welfare failure is not in having a dog with cancer but in failing to provide adequate pain management during the remaining time. Honest quality of life assessment and willingness to provide euthanasia when quality of life cannot be maintained are core components of good cancer care.