I'm on my second tripawd and both got back to their active selves!  The first two weeks after amputation are rough, especially if they have side effects to to the meds (which it sounds like from reading posts here that most do).  But after the first two weeks, with a little luck, the incision is healed up and your Lab can start gradually building back up to his previous activity level.  My Yoda's ball playing actually improved (I somewhat suspect the tumor he had may have been affecting him a lot longer before he ever started limping), still ran with other dogs at the park and he even caught a rabbit in the yard – despite my best efforts to get in his way.  He did pass away due to complications from osteosarcoma.  I now have Gerry, who lost his leg due to an injury.  I only had him a short time before his amputation, and even then his leg was hurt, so I can't say for sure how close he was to his four-legged activity level, but it's hard to imagine he was any more active.  Yoda did tire out sooner than he used too, and I think Gerry does too – with Gerry I see it in that he'll get mouthier as he plays longer with other dogs and I think that's frustration from being tired.  Though he also has some rude behaviors with other dogs that we're working on, so how much of that is his tiring out and how much of it is him trying to be top dog with the wrong dogs is a gray area.

Anyway, just wanted to chime in, it's not just the little dogs like your dacshund.  The bigger dogs, Labs like yours and on up, can do it too!  There are lots of stories here, not just mine, of tripawds who remained pawesome athletes.

It's totally understandable how hard a decision this is to make, especially if your vet hasn't even put it out there for you.  For the reasons you and Admin mentioned, I think it makes very good sense to consider it.  You'll do the right thing for your loved one – whatever that may be.  Trust yourself!  Good luck and I hope you'll keep us posted!!!

Hi there, so sorry to hear about your pup's diagnosis.  I just want to share my experience with perthes.  My oldest daughter was diagnosed with perthes when she was five.  Two and a half years later, after six months in hip to toe casts and then braces for the rest of the time, we were told that she had healed very well.  Now she is approaching her thirtieth birthday and is on a wait list for a hip replacement.  She lives in constant pain. 

My Cassie a race bred Alaskan Husky was just one and a half when she lost her right rear leg from a accident, so I also understand your worry about a dog so young becoming a tripawd.  I worry about the wear and tear on her other limbs. 

But one thing I know for certain is she is not in any pain now.

Huge hugs to you,

Donna