Should I take my dog to the vet about an occasional limp?

[TheLastNotch]

I am concerned about my dog's back left leg and not sure what to do for the best.

She is playing, eating, drinking, moving, sleeping and living normally. She is showing no sign of pain or discomfort or anything.

However

1. Sometimes on a walk she will do the little hop thing, I can't explain it perfectly, but where they skip putting that leg down for one step, and it creates a little hop, if that makes sense? She done this since she was a pup, it isn't constant but rather once of twice on a walk. Maybe. It's not even every walk.
2. Today, I was scratching her little tush when I got through the front door. The next thing that left leg seemed to give way. Or maybe it was the laminate surface and her paw pad just slipped? I don't know, it was so quick I can't be sure. I was horrified.

It is playing on my mind. I don't know whether to take her to the vets for them to look.

The reason I hesitate is because could this bugger up insurance if it is nothing going on now, but years down the line she needs help for something that might possibly be deemed connected because of this one conversation I had with a vet years ago?

I remember when I moved to PetPlan Lifetime insurance, they asked me a question that said "have you ever taken [name redacted] to the vets for something, even if it turned out to be nothing at all?" They literally asked that question, with the caveat that even if the vet said something was in your imagination or not happening or not relevant, they deem it relevant.

Stats:
Age: 2 years old
Breed: Miniature poodle
Weight: Stable and perfect 7.9kgs
Sex: Female
Diet: Raw with added green tripe (but is allowed biscuity treats), loves yogurt and cheese obviously.
Vet: She's there all the time and they see her a lot, glands mostly. There was her spay, couple of ear infections, wormers, vaccine boosters. They see her often and seem to have a feel of her body inc legs every so often, they haven't mentioned anything.

Insurance:
PetPlan Lifetime £12k Policy that I don't intend to move away from until her premiums become unbearably expensive in her hopefully old-old age.

I'm not asking anyone to diagnose or rule out Luxating Patella in my dog, but rather talk me through taking my anxious dog mum vibes to the vet or not, considering her insurance it should be ok? Lifetime right? I don't know, I don't want to be kicking myself in ten years time....

It sounds like luxating patella and it can be extremely painful. Arthritis can set in and then your options are limited. Poodles and their crosses also often have spinal irregularities which can throw up limps. Do you know whether the parents or offspring have issues?

Would you encourage a human with a painful occasional limp to see a professional? Of course you would. No point having insurance if you’re not going to use it for fear of pre existing conditions.