I am so sorry to hear this.....you are right to be scared.My Puppy had the surgery when he was 6 months old. He did very well and runs and plays with the other guys but he is definitely lame., although the Vet assured me he would be almost perfect.....I have been told it can take up to a year for a full recovery and to build up the muscles to take over the stregth lost with the joint removal.During his recovery time he jumped off a pillow on the floor, lost his balance and broke his front leg. He had to have surgery again and has a plate in the leg. That broken leg is just fine but I am a nervous wreck with this dog now as he is still off balance. .
If I were you I would most definitely get another opinion before getting into the surgery. It is not quite as benign as it sounds. Also, 2 years is a bit old for a puppy to first discover Leggs Perthe. It is a genetic happening and usually appears as a limp earlier.
If he definitely does have Leggs Perthe the surgery will be necessary.It will not improve on its own, but will become worse and worse over time. You cannot have the dog live on pain meds. Here is excellent information for you to read.
http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/deleggcp.html
Keep us posted and I hope your little baby will do fine.
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STORMY Smokie,Bandit,Oliver,Katy and Frosty.Misty at the bridge :-([/COLOR]
Wolf, my heart dog passed 2/6/10