My pup is nearly 5mhts old and every so often, more last night and this morning, he is really nibbling over his hip area though he has a flea or an itch. I have checked and checked and cam see absolutely nothing except lovely clean puppy skin.
Now I was wondering is it possible that their hips ache as they go through growth spurts  that causes them to do this??
He only gets his 20 mins walk in one session but has a couple of these a day, one of which is free walking with me in the forest.

This will be a sensation in the area either itch as you suspected or pain, as the skin is clear and not inflamed I would want a vet to check the joints in the area. It is not really possible to know where the pup is nibbling or as pain caused in one place can be felt in another it is best to have it checked out by a vet. Is the dog lame at all? It could be  abdominal pain and not the bones so get it seen today if possible or you will be up against the long weekend. Just noted your profession and would think I have told you what you already know.

I have bred nine litters of labs and kept a pup from all but one litter and every pup I have had has done this....even periodically when walking along.

None have had sore,broken skin,fleas or anything to cause any obvious irritation and all pups have come back with very good hip scores so joint pain was not the cause.

My thoughts are it could be general puppy itchies which they do seem to get as they are growing I have noticed or possibly walking dandruff which is a mite easily cleared up with frontline spray,

Ali

Thank you.
He is being totally normal (mental) and not lame in any way that's why I wondered about growing pains.
I have re checked him as he did it again and it was a nibble scratch action with his teeth, after a while i found a tiny half dead flea I think. Little brown thing but smaller than I've seen before (in the past on other dogs)and moving but slowly like it had been squashed.
The times I've checked last might and this morning and found nothing! Plus he is white so very easy to see.
Have put anti flea stuff on him so hopefully that's the last of it.

Going back to growing pains - do pups get these?

> Little brown thing but smaller than I've seen before (in the past on other dogs)and moving but slowly like it had been squashed.

Sounds more like a tick...  They are tiny, flat, and slow before they swell into a more familiar shape.  There are plenty about at the moment and rather than use too many chemicals you can spray your pup with garlic juice before walking - it really does seem to be pretty effective at stopping the little buggers from climbing on. 

> Going back to growing pains - do pups get these?

I don't know for sure but when you consider the speed of growth it wouldn't be surprising.  Pups also bash themselves about a bit whilst playing etc which they don't feel at the time - it may be that, whilst relaxing, your dog is noticing some pain from an earlier knock (?)

Definitely not a tick, we get plenty of these and I could draw one with my eyes shut!

He did have a charge about on his walk last evening and does bash into things at high speed especially when playing with my other dogs. He also jumps on the sofa or chairs, finding it very tricky to stop this when he's playing. I know hips have to be protected but if I stopped everything that could cause damage he would be in his cage most of the time! He's a big hefty lump of dog that charges at full speed and has no brakes!

Yes,they do get growing pains.....google panosteitis. I had a puppy owner ring me about a pup I bred  when it was 5 months old showing signs of slight lameness shifting from leg to leg. I suspected pano and the vet confirmed it.

I have never had it in a pup I have kept but we feed a large breed formula for our growing pups to reduce growth spurts and rapid growth which probably helps

Ali

> I know hips have to be protected but if I stopped everything that could cause damage he would be in his cage most of the time!

Smiling because I've had a livewire like this myself.  The vet suggested nailing her feet to the floor.  :-)

By the way folks, said in jest for those of you that don't do my dry humour.

I know you say hip area but my pup does this when she has slightly over eaten.

Have you checked the anal glands? I have had dogs/pups that nibble the hip area when the anal glands need emptying.

cant say I've noticed if its after food, is this significant then?

he is on raw food and I hope its not anal glands at young age but suppose it can happen any age?.

I used bob martin anti flea but the new frinopril they make (same as frontline) but he is still doing it on and off. I might try Advocate as this does lots of lice/ mite things even though I cant see anything on his skin or fur.

I hope its not anal glands at young age but suppose it can happen any age?.

Certainly can, I have had it in a couple of pups in the past and one I have at the moment, luckily I can empty them myself without the need of a vet doing it, my dogs also fed raw. They have always grown out of it mind you and never had problems with anal glands as adults. :)

It could be anal glands. I suggest buying a Cavalier as mine is excellent at emptying the Goldens' anal glands. YUK!

OMG G.Rets, I don't know which is worse - that or my girl who washes her 3 year old daughter's bottom when she's in season!!