DOG help: My puppy broke his leg about 3 days ago below his knee. - Help.com

I have had an experience similar to this. My dog had to have her feet in casts because of a certain disease, anyway to make a long story short she has to take medication for it. Well i’m glad you want the best for you puppy, i think it’ll be fine after a while, try to find something that is healthy for it’s joints, if it is still a puppy you’ll want to make sure everything is fine, but i bet your puppy will be fully recovered :)

poor puppy D`:

yah go with the cast. You’ll puppy will be fine.

~CharloTTe

if the *ideal* is not being used because of money, then talk to the vet about a payment plan that would suit you.
you shouldnt not give your dog the best treatment it can get just because of money, YOU invested in buying this puppy, therefore YOU owe the dog the best care it can get.
Im a veterinary student, and from experience, i can tell you that the bone below the “knee” of a dog, I.E the tarsus or metacarpus, is akin to the ankle bone in humans. it takes a hell of a lot of weight and use on it, and mended fractures are quite suceptible to either rebreaking, aligning wrong, or being prone to arthritis in older years. therefore having it reinforced with metal is going to be far stronger. this is what they do for humans, i have a metal plate and pins in my own ankle.
it somewhat depends on the age of your puppy also, if it is very young and sleeps a lot, then a cast may work well as it wont be trying to run round and possibly misalign the bones.
but if its a bit older and full of energy, its going to be one hell of a mission to try and keep the puppy from running round, putting weight on the cast and possibly even chewing it off.