Cancer is increasingly common in companion dogs. Managing quality of life through treatment decisions, palliative care and end-of-life support is central to welfare-focused oncology.
Canine cancer welfare requires holding both hope and realism in balance. Unlike human oncology, the primary goal in dog cancer treatment is maintaining quality of life - aggressive treatments that cause severe side effects are generally not used even if they might extend survival. A dog with lymphoma receiving chemotherapy should continue to eat, play and be comfortable throughout treatment. When this is no longer achievable, palliative care and ultimately euthanasia are welfare-protective choices rather than failures. The HHHHHMM scale provides a practical tool for tracking quality of life and informing the most difficult decisions.