O'Shea, 19, will have bone shaved from his hip and loose matter removed to try to rectify the soreness he has suffered in recent weeks.
Coach Rodney Eade said the emerging defender could have survived the season without the surgery but would have struggled for a senior opportunity.
"He's been running under duress and he could probably get through but it's going to compromise his season," Eade told afl.com.au at the Dogs' season launch on Wednesday night at Docklands.
"As a young guy, it's better to get it fixed up so at least he can have a clean run at the last 12 or so weeks of the season and be able to show his true wares.
"If he just grumbled along, he wouldn't be able to play and it would have affected his confidence.
"I think getting it done is the right thing to do."
O'Shea was recruited by the Bulldogs late in the 2006 draft and is yet to play a senior game in the home-and-away season.
The young Queenslander, who has played two NAB Cup matches including the Dogs' recent one-point loss to Essendon, is earmarked as a developing running defender by the club and was hoping to make his debut this year.
The Dogs will now have the opportunity to move O'Shea to the long term injury list, which would free up a spot for one of the club's six rookies to be elevated to the main list.
Eade, who has previously noted that mature-age rookie Liam Picken could easily play senior football if given the chance, said the Dogs wouldn't rush into a decision.
"We'll elevate if we need someone. There's no point in elevating just for the sake of elevating someone," he said.
"Young James Mulligan did well on the weekend, Liam Picken has done well and Henry White showed a little bit.
"At this stage, none of them would get a game but there might be a case for them over the next 10 rounds, so we'll wait and see what happens."
Meanwhile, another Bulldogs backman in Tom Williams will play his first game for the year on Saturday when the club meets Melbourne in a NAB Challenge match at Casey Fields.
Williams, 22, has been eased into the action this pre-season after recovering from an end-of-season shoulder operation while nursing a recent ankle injury.
"He'll play this week and will be in the squad on Thursday," Eade said.
"He'll play half a game. He's had an ankle and could have played last week but we just thought we'd give him another week training."
