I felt the same about my bitch after she'd had meningitis. She was never 100% afterwards: had an odd roll to her gait, couldn't turn tight, and her spine was as stiff as a lump of wood, but I went on to lamp her and she had a great strike, and she had a few runs on hares: she was never in pain and enjoyed her long life hugely. I let her do what she wanted to when we were out mooching, and she caught a fair few rabbits during her life. I figured if I never let her do anything then what was the point of spending a fortune on her at the vet's only to spend her life on the lead.
got a harness for