Cancer is the leading cause of death in older dogs, with quality of life assessment and palliative care approaches essential to maintaining dignity and welfare through treatment and end of life.
Cancer in dogs causes diverse welfare impacts including pain, nausea, weakness, respiratory distress, and loss of normal function. Pain is frequently undertreated in canine cancer patients because owners and vets may be reluctant to acknowledge its severity. Quality of life assessment tools help objectify welfare evaluation and guide treatment decisions. The decision between curative, palliative, and euthanasia approaches should center on the dog's experience rather than owner grief or financial considerations. A good death - timely, peaceful, and free from distress - is an important welfare endpoint for dogs with terminal cancer.