Star gets a limp from time to time. We go walkies twice a day and cover 25-30 miles a week; and all 'country' walks. River and canal banks, woods, grass etc. And because of that she can get a real old build up of stuff accumulating in the fur between her pads. It gets wet, then grit and dust sticks to it and if left it'll form really hard and solid lumps, which is obviously uncomfortable for her when she's walking.
Scarey at first, cutting it out with a pair of pointed nail scissors, but we both soon got the hang of it, and I kid you not, it works every time. It was a dog groomer who first alerted me to the fact that it could be a problem (with spaniels, she said).
Now that hadn't come on overnight, but I used to think it had because it was apparent on her morning walk.
And...I used to walk a neighbour's Lab, and he had arthritis, and that caused him to limp after a long period of resting; but improved as he 'warmed up'. Hopefully not that, but Glucosamine worked wonders for him.
