Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Cancer Pain Management and QoL

Cancer is common in older dogs and effective pain management is essential for maintaining quality of life during treatment and palliative care.

Key Facts

Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years old
NSAIDs, opioids, and gabapentin are commonly used for cancer pain management
Palliative radiation can significantly reduce bone cancer pain without cure
Quality of life assessment tools help owners and vets make informed decisions
Hospice care at home allows dogs to spend final days in familiar surroundings

Welfare Considerations

Undertreated cancer pain profoundly reduces quality of life for affected dogs. Proactive multimodal pain management, combined with quality of life assessment, enables owners to make humane decisions and ensures dogs do not suffer unnecessarily.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet for a comprehensive pain management plan if your dog has cancer
Use validated quality of life tools to monitor your dog's daily experience
Explore palliative care and hospice options when curative treatment is not chosen