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Why is my dog's gait unsteady with anal gland cancer? Will it improve?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Australian Cattle Dog | Female | 37 lbs

My female Queensland Heeler has an anal gland carcinoma. She is scheduled for surgery tomorrow am. Over the last couple of days, her gait has become unstready. Is the tumor causing metatisis to her sublumbar nodes, or is its growth pressing on nerves. Also, with excision of mass and nodes, with her gait. normalize?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on June 20th, 2017

I'm sorry to hear that Ginger is going through this situation. Either scenario that you mentioned is possible as a cause for her gait changes. Removal of the mass and relief of pressure on the nerves may improve her gait if this is causing the problem, but her gait will not improve if the cancer has metastasized. Prior to surgery tomorrow morning, consider asking her vet if they can perform chest x-rays and a rectal exam to determine if metastasis is suspicious. If the cancer has metastasized, surgery is unlikely to be very beneficial, and it may be time to either euthanize Ginger or go to an oncologist for chemotherapy or radiation options. If pressure on the nerves is causing the issue, you may not see immediate improvement in her gait because it can take several weeks for nerves to regenerate and normalize. I hope that all goes well for Ginger!

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    Answered By Emily, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Her gait could be abnormal for both of those reasons. If the surgeon is able to remove all the cancer including her affected lymph nodes her gait should return to normal. However with the surgery it is possible for nerves to get damaged during the procedure. In which case there could be other consequences of the surgery including fecal incontinence.

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