Cancer is among the leading causes of death in older dogs. Welfare-focused quality of life assessment helps owners and vets make compassionate decisions about treatment, palliative care, and euthanasia timing.
Cancer welfare in dogs requires honest, ongoing assessment of the balance between treatment burden and benefit. Dogs cannot express preferences about treatment options, making welfare assessment by owners and vets critical. Quality of life scales provide a structured framework for evaluation that helps owners avoid both premature euthanasia (when treatment could maintain good quality life) and prolonged suffering (when treatment burden outweighs benefit). The veterinary oncology field has advanced sufficiently that many dogs achieve good quality extended survival - but this requires access to specialist care and willingness to commit to treatment protocols. Palliative care when cure is impossible focuses on comfort, dignity, and enjoyment of remaining life.