Cancer is a leading cause of death in dogs, and quality of life assessment tools help owners and vets make welfare-informed treatment decisions throughout the disease course.
Cancer in dogs forces some of the most difficult welfare decisions owners face, requiring honest assessment of current quality of life and realistic prognosis. The tendency to pursue aggressive treatment at all costs can create significant welfare harm when it extends suffering rather than meaningful life. Equally, premature euthanasia before quality of life has genuinely declined also represents a welfare error. Quality of life assessment tools provide structured frameworks for these decisions, but require owners to honestly evaluate signs of pain and distress rather than interpreting them through the lens of hope. Veterinary palliative care services provide essential welfare support for dogs with terminal diagnoses.