Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years old. Welfare-focused oncology balances treatment benefit against quality of life, avoiding over-treatment as much as under-treatment.
Cancer welfare in dogs requires honest assessment of treatment benefit versus burden. Aggressive chemotherapy that extends life by weeks at the cost of severe side effects may not serve the dog's welfare. Quality of life assessment tools (Villalobos scale) provide structured frameworks for these decisions. Pain management throughout the disease course — from diagnosis to end of life — is the most important welfare intervention regardless of treatment choice.