Hy, I picked up my 5 month old (just) puppy last Wednesday and things have been going really well, when last night after sleeping she got up and was clearly lame on her right hind leg.  I have restricted her movement and she is really bad on waking, but is better on moving about. I dont feel its HD as her gait is sound albeit she is at that 'loose' stage, but had been sound. Can anyone help please.

Unfortunately there are some of the soundest dogs running around with severe HD.  Movement etc. does not show whether a dog has a problem, the only way unfortunately is by an x-ray.  I hope it isn't HD, but I would take your pup to the vet to get it checked out.

Another thing to consider which they grow out of is Panosteitis, which is an inflammation of the Bone lining and gives wandering lameness in fast growing Young dogs, especially males.

I am certainly wondering if Panosteitis is a possibility, or just a muscle pull. I have restricted her movement so she is in one room with me, and let her rest for a few days, which is what the Vet will say to do to start. Devastating when you have a sound sweet puppy you are getting to know for 4 days then this. And she is in a quiet home now compared to where she came from. 

You are right to rest her the vet would suggest this to start with. There are many simple causes of lameness, but if there is no improvement in a few days, get her into the vets.

I got my pup when he was 11 weeks old, he was fine, until 1 day when he was 5 months old he had a limp on a front leg, I rested him, it got worse. I took him to the vets & he had painkillers as nothing appeared to be wrong. Over the next week he got so bad he could barely walk. Got him x-rayed & it turned out to be elbow displasia :( He's improving by the day just on anti inflamatories & controlled exercise, he is even running around like a loony again :)
I am not trying to suggest your pup has anything serious, just pointing out that allthough things like displasia sound horrible, it doesn't always mean surgery, weight controll, controlled exercise and the occasional anit-inflamatory can manage these thing in some cases and if it does mean surgery it isn't the end of the world.

A pulled muscle/ligament, a leg knocked on something are all possible causes. Also Pano & HOD are both self-limiting things that can cause lameness, if xrayed at the right stage they can be seen on xray and associated pain controlled (maybe re-hydration with the HOD as it can be accompanied by the runs).

I know how horrible it is to see your pup go lame overnight, I had a diangossis that, at the time, I thouht was devastating, but now it's not so bad. Don't try to worry yourself too much. Keep an eye on her, note when the limp is worst (ie after rest/after exercise), as things like this can aid in diagnosis.

Thank you, but what is HOD?

Hypertrophic osteodystrophy (I think - had to Google it - not heard of it myself).

yep HOD = Hypertrophic osteodystrophy, its excessive bone growth.

Thank you. Don't think that fits the symptoms, thank goodness. Rest is not having much effect yet, but its only the 2nd day. This pup was brought up with a puppy 5 months older than herself and I wonder if it may bean injury as the lady (sensibly!) left them outside together when she went out. So at 2 months old this pup had a huge 8 month old male pup as her company.

The 'sensible' comment was sarcasm btw!!

> The 'sensible' comment was sarcasm btw!!

lol, yes I guessed that :)

Fingers crossed it's something minor, free play with an older puppy is most definately a good cause for a minor injury :( Even a simple sprain/strain could take a while to heal and be helped with some anti-inflamatories from the vets. So no need to panick yet :) It is such a worry though, our brains try to think of the worst :(

We have a 12 month old Border who developed a limp it was OCD, which has been treated and apart from a tablet every day -clocosamine (not quite the right spelling) he's fine, did you visit the vet? we got most of the fees back from insurance company. We inadvertantly caused the problem by over exercising a growing pup. Hope its something simple though.