Questions to ask when surgery is offered for your dog's IVDD

Questions when surgery is offered

A surgeon or veterinary neurologist has said your dog could have back or neck surgery for IVDD. Sometimes that offer comes after a scan, late at night, with a decision needed within hours. Sometimes it comes at a calm consult with days to think. Either way, it is a lot to take in, and many caregivers later say they wish they had asked a few more questions before signing.

This page is a questions checklist for that conversation. It is not a page about whether surgery or crate rest is the better path. That comparison lives in surgery or conservative care? Here, the focus is the surgery itself: what is planned, what to expect for your dog, what the hospital stay and first weeks at home look like, and what it costs.

If the clock is running, ask the time question first

If your dog cannot walk, is getting weaker by the hour, or cannot feel their toes being pinched, the surgeon may want to move quickly. Questions are still fine, but start with this one:

• How soon does a decision need to be made, and what could change if we wait a few hours or a day?

If your dog cannot walk, is getting worse, is in pain you cannot settle, or cannot pee, and you have not yet reached a vet, go to an emergency hospital now. See IVDD emergency signs.

Questions about what is planned

• Which disc, or discs, are you planning to treat?
• What is the operation called, and what will you actually do? (For a back disc this is often a hemilaminectomy. For a neck disc it is often a ventral slot.)
• Are you planning to treat any nearby discs at the same time to lower the chance of another episode? Why or why not?
• Did the scan show anything else you want to address, or anything you are not sure about?
• Who will do the surgery, and how often does your team do this operation?

For background on the operation itself, see IVDD surgery: decisions and questions to ask. If the disc is in the neck: cervical IVDD.

Questions about what to expect for my dog

• How would you describe my dog's signs today? Can my dog feel deep pain?
• For dogs with signs like my dog's, what results do you usually see after surgery?
• How soon after surgery do dogs like mine usually start to walk, if they do?
• What would a slower or partial recovery look like?
• What would make you less hopeful, and what would make you more hopeful?

Ask for ranges, not promises. Surgeons describe outcomes in groups of dogs, and your dog may do better or worse than the average. See IVDD severity grades and the recovery timeline.

Questions about risks

• What are the main risks of this surgery for my dog?
• What could go wrong under anesthesia, and what checks will you do first?
• Does my dog's age, breed, weight, or any other health problem change the risk?
• Can signs get worse for a while after surgery before they get better? What would you do if they do?
• What signs at home after surgery would mean I should call you right away?

For French bulldogs, pugs, and other flat-faced breeds, ask what extra airway precautions the team uses during anesthesia and recovery.

Questions about the hospital stay

• How many days will my dog likely stay in the hospital?
• Who checks on my dog overnight?
• How will pain be managed in the hospital and at home? (Ask about the type of medicine, not just the name. See IVDD medications.)
• Can my dog pee on their own yet? If not, who will show me how to help?
• Can I visit, and how will I get updates?

Bladder care is the part many caregivers say they were least ready for. Ask for a hands-on demonstration before discharge if your dog needs help. See bladder care for a dog with IVDD.

Questions about the first weeks at home

• How long is strict crate rest after surgery, and what does strict mean for my dog?
• How should I lift and carry my dog, and how do potty trips work?
• How should I care for the incision, and how long does the cone stay on?
• When are the recheck and stitch or staple removal?
• When does rehabilitation start, and what can I safely do at home?

Do not change, stop, or add any medicine or supplement after surgery unless your vet tells you to. For home setup: crate rest after IVDD surgery and rehabilitation.

Questions about cost and paperwork

It is okay to ask about money. A clear estimate now is kinder than a surprise later.

• Can I get a written estimate for surgery, the hospital stay, and the first rechecks?
• Is the estimate a range? What could make it go higher?
• Is a deposit needed, and are payment plans available?
• If I have pet insurance, what records will you send, and when?
• What is included in the estimate, and what is billed separately, such as rehabilitation?

Questions if you are not sure yet

You are allowed to need time, or to want another view.

• If I want a second opinion, how quickly would that need to happen?
• If we choose not to operate, what would the plan be instead, and how would we know it is not working?
• If we start with rest, would surgery still be an option later?
• Is there anything you would want to know about our home or schedule before you recommend surgery?

Comparing paths: surgery or conservative care? Who to see: regular vet or veterinary neurologist?

Screenshot this checklist

• How soon must we decide, and what changes if we wait?
• Which disc, which operation, and who does it?
• What results do you usually see in dogs like mine?
• Main risks for my dog, and what to watch for after?
• How many hospital days, and how is pain managed?
• Can my dog pee alone? Show me bladder care if not.
• How long is crate rest, and when is the first recheck?
• Written estimate, including rechecks?
• What is the plan if we do not operate?

Before you decide

This page is purely informational and is not perfect advice. Follow your vet's plan, and always check with your vet before changing, altering, or supplementing anything. If your dog cannot walk, is getting weaker, is in pain you cannot settle, or cannot pee, go to your vet or an emergency hospital now.