Jubilee has struggled with lameness and GI issues her entire life. She’ll turn seven in January. After seeing a top neurologist, we now have a probable diagnosis of Tethered Cord Syndrome. I’ve decided not to pursue surgery. Without surgery, I know she is unlikely to see her eighth birthday.
That’s really hard. It sucks.
Here is how I arrived at this decision. I’m not a vet, nor am I an expert at reading research papers. This is simply my understanding of the information gathered from multiple vets, specialists, and the experiences of other owners of dogs with TCS.
The Surgery Itself
TCS can’t be confirmed with 100% certainty before surgery—often, the only way to know is if symptoms improve afterwards. The surgery isn’t always successful. It’s relatively new in veterinary medicine, and long-term outcomes aren’t well documented. (In humans, retethering can happen in up to 30% of cases, but that’s mostly linked to growth—so not really applicable to an adult dog.)
From what I’ve read, surgery is less likely to succeed once symptoms have progressed. Jubilee is seven now, and her symptoms have worsened over time. Although there are older dogs with good outcomes, most of the successful cases seem to be with younger dogs, around age four.
Jubilee also has a lot of other medical complexities. Which ones are related to TCS? Which ones would be 'cured' by the surgery? What if we put her through this and she’s no better? Or worse? Or what if it helps for only a short time? Would it be worth it?
The Recovery
Four months of strict crate rest. Four months.
And she is a very active, high-energy, high-arousal dog.
Based on everything we’ve already been through—rest periods, recoveries, rehab—I cannot honestly imagine her coming out the other side emotionally intact. The muscle loss alone worries me. So do the risks of secondary injuries or compensations when she tries to return to normal life.
Dogs cannot consent. And that makes this kind of decision unbelievably hard.
Finances
We do not have insurance. Jubilee has already been an incredibly expensive dog. Her monthly medications are over $300. She needs acupuncture, laser therapy, and regular bodywork, $3800 procedure in spring 2025, an $8,000 procedure in winter 2024, plus a $4,500 scope, multiple ultrasounds, many X-rays, bloodwork, and testing for every possible condition.
And Jubilee isn’t our only pet. We’ve gone through extensive diagnostics and palliative care with another dog, my horse, and our senior dog in the last two years—not counting routine care for everyone else.
I’m saying “enough.”
Caregiver Fatigue
I'm beyond tired. I am exhausted. I need a break. It has been a rough two years, but Jubilee has always been hard emotionally. She is the SWEETEST dog. She is sweet and adorable and quirky and makes me smile and laugh daily, but it is exhausting always watching to see if she is ok - if she is hurting or afraid.
I don't know that I have enough left to take care of her through recovery.
My husband also needs to be considered. He and Jubilee have a special bond. Losing her will devastate him. But watching her go through the physical and emotional challenge of surgery and recovery would also be devastating. Going through all of that and not having a good outcome… that’s a lot to ask of anyone.
Wrap-Up
Many people care deeply about Jubilee. Our rehab clinic always jokes that the staff love her so much they might steal her and just tell me she ran away. She’s well known and well loved in clinics all over the province.
Her neurologist cares, too—not just about Jubilee, but about me. You can feel the warmth and the genuine desire to help from her whole team. A part of me wants to do the surgery for them.
I’m writing this at 7 a.m., after waking up at 4 and thinking about Jubilee ever since. Right now, she’s curled in a tiny ball, sleeping pressed against me on the couch.
My decision not to pursue surgery is definitely not from a lack of love. I know that at any point, I can reconsider and change my mind. But for now, this is where we are.
If you see Jubilee while we are out, yes she wants to say hi, yes she can have a cookie, and yes please tell her how adorable she is.
