Intermittent limping - worry or monitor it?

[emptyshell]

He's always had this odd gait about him - runs very much from his front legs with his back legs trying to keep up (and the brain part of him trailing five miles down the road) but he's got this off-on limping thing going on with his left back leg today.

Just taken him out for a walk - he was plodding along fine, then after a pee (it's his supporting leg rather than the one he cocks in the air) suddenly started limping really badly, not putting weight on it - so I checked his paw in case he'd stood on anything, felt up and down the leg and there's no sore spots - he's quite happy to let me feel it quite strongly provided there's a backscratch at the end of it - so turned to head back to the car... lil bugger stopped limping and resumed his normal walk - so let him off the lead to watch how he walked at a distance - fine, putting weight on it, trying to nick a bull terrier's tennis ball and eat rabbit shit like normal... limped a tiny bit just as we were back to the car but jumped into the car fine and is back to normal again now.

I know with breeds he's got recognisable in him (Collie and German Shepherd) that hip displasia is always my biggest fear (and the reason I went for the highest amount of per-condition insurance I could get on him) - but he seems fine again now and I'm worried I'm being a heartless cow if I just monitor it for a few days (I'm wondering if he pulled a muscle slightly peeing since he does try to get his cocked leg about five feet up in the air and goes for it in a somewhat over enthusiastic handstand manouver) cos I can't get him to the vets today at least anyway. Seems like the sort of intermittent issue that's going to stage a remarkable recovery in the vets waiting room as well so I'm going to have to try to catch evidence on camera to show. Was very much a couple of minutes of real limping and then he was back to normal straight after a pee manouver.

I ain't being a heartless cow am I?

[Tchootnika]

If it's only here and there, rest of the time he's completely fine, moving and enjoying himself as usual, nothing else problematic, I think it's best to monitor for a few days, unless it's getting worse or worrisome.
That's definitely what I'd do.

[Ephiny]

I would probably monitor for a couple of days, maybe go easy on the exercise if you suspect a pulled muscle or similar, and take him to the vet if it hasn't cleared up after that (or obviously if it gets worse in the interim).

[DavidDickinsonsTan]

we had this with one of ours and it turned out to be the cruciate ligament, which i hope is not the case with yours. It required a £900 op.

[thedogwalker]

I don't want to over worry you, but 3 months ago my bordie collie, 15 years old, started with intermittant limping, took her to the vets, and yes she improved whilst in there. Told it could be arthrirtis (sp??) and she was put on some meidcation for it. She did improve. I then went back to work after maternity leave and I have been busy learning to cope being a Mum and working with DH not here,(he works abroad) and so I didn't give Tessa enough attention. She started to limp really badly this week. Took her to the vets yesterday and I came home without her, I am devastated. She had a tumour which was affecting her walking.

So please keep an eye on your beloved pet, these tumours can grow so rapidly and internally that they don't protrude to the latter stages when its too late. Don't be like me, sitting here crying wishing I'd done more sooner.

It probably isn't the same thing, but please get it checked out.

[emptyshell]

He's not limped again since then - so at the moment we're chalking it down to overenthusiastic leg cocking! Will mention it to the vet next time we're there to keep an eye on.