Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

    rewards header
    Become a member today!
    Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
    Already a member? Sign in
    Petco Pay LogoBecome a credit card member today!

    Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
    when you use Petco Pay!

    APPLY NOW
    Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Dog had leg fracture surgery, now crying, not walking, and cracking.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pit Bull Terrier | Female | unspayed | 8 months and 18 days old

My dog got bumped by a car and we rushed her to a vet. They took an xray of her right swollen hind leg and found a fracture. She had several other cracking noises but the vet paid no attention to those. We did the surgery and had the rod put in. She is home now but still has cracking with every movement. She cannot walk on her 3 good legs but can stand. Two steps and she starts crying. Please advise us on what could be wrong..

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Mirissa Duncil, DVM

Answered By Mirissa Duncil, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 19th, 2017

Hi there. Poor Lexi! Based on your one x ray you've provided (thank you!) and your history I would agree with the treatment you've been given thus far. I'm unsure what medications she is on as far as pain control, however. It may be that she is still painful even with them-any orthopedic procedure, especially implants-can cause pain, inflammation, and a awkward gait for quite a while. After the initial healing process, physical therapy is key for these guys! As far as the cracking noisies I'm unsure where they're coming from as I can't personally examine your pet. I can hypothesize that other small fractures, acl tears (in the knee area of the dog, can hear a meniscal "click" with a tear), etc can cause this. If it continues, I would definitely bring her back in. If she is still not moving well in a day or two-it may be that she needs more pain control to be comfortable at this time. I hope this helps!
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Poor Lexi! It's possible that she has another orthopedic injury, although joints can crack even when there is nothing wrong with them (as you might know if you have ever cracked your knuckles). If she was able to move around on three legs before surgery she may just be painful and reluctant to walk but it's possible that she has an injury like a small fracture or ligament instability on another leg as well. I would recommend rechecking with your veterinarian to make sure she's recovering appropriately after surgery. Hope she feels better soon.

    Vote Icon

    0Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Health & Wellness
My dog is limping on hind leg. X-rays show fracture. What now?
Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Muneca is limping. Based off the radiograph, it looks like her fibula, the smaller bone in her lower leg, may be fractured. It is difficult to know for sure without an orthogonal view, but that may be the reason for her limping. I recommend restricting her activity to cage rest and leash walks only, do not let her run or play for at least 4 weeks to allow time for the bone to heal. I recommend having her evaluated by a veterinarian who can perform bloodwork and see if it is safe to prescribe her anti-inflammatory pain medications to help her feel more comfortable. NEVER give human pain medications to dogs as they can be markedly toxic. I hope this is helpful!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My dog is crying, sad, and inactive. Vet says leg bone popping. What to do?
Did the veterinarian give you any medication to help with pain? If not I would highly encourage you to call tomorrow and request something for pain management. Also, is he limping or holding that leg up? If not then I would be suspicious that something else may be bothering him. Often I find neck or back pain present on dogs who “cry out” for no known reason. Of course many other possibilities exist as well. An x-ray and / or blood work may be helpful in narrowing down the diagnosis. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon! Thank you for using Pet Coach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Is my puppy's limping normal 3 weeks after leg fracture surgery?
Poor girl. : ( It sounds like she is tweaking it a bit when she tries to do extrenuous exercise, which is expected, especially since she still has hardware in place in the leg. Her muscles also can grow tired quicker and become inflamed, which can cause some limping after increased movement. This sounds pretty normal at this stage in the healing process. However, if you are noticing any excessive swelling around the area, drainage or signs of infection, then she should be seen by your vet. Otherwise, follow-up your vet as scheduled to check on things and hopefully the leg is healing well via the post surgery x-rays that they will take. I hope that Olly's leg heals well. Best wishes and take care.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Why is my dog's fractured hip lumpy and leg flopping after 8 weeks?
Thank you for submitting your question regarding Maya. She will need to see her veterinarian again or you may consider seeking a second opinion. I am concerned that the fracture did not heal properly. She will likely need x-rays to determine how the leg has healed and then I suspect she will require further treatment. In the meantime, keep her very quiet to avoid any further trauma to the limb. I hope this information helps!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Medications
Why is my dog struggling to walk and crying after hospital & spay?
It sounds like she is in pain and needs some physical therapy to help her learn to walk again. She has probably lost muscle from being in a cage so long. I recommend having her leg checked so you know where the lameness is from, like her knee, hip or foot, and seeing if there is a treatment for her lameness. They can also get her safe pain medication. She may walk better once the pain is under control. Use a harness and leash so you can assist her walking and get her up for many short walks during the day. As she gets some exercise she should improve. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Dobby.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Why is my puppy crying with a fractured leg in a splint? Is it pain?
I would suspect that Bambino's whimpering and crying is due to pain. A fractured leg would be very painful, and he is on pain medication to help with that pain. Be sure to give it as directed, and if you feel that maybe it's not helping, discuss with his vet possibly using another pain medication for him. Best of luck, I hope this helps.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My puppy's leg is swollen and she's limping. Is it broken or sprained?
I really feel that Lexi needs to have a full veterinary exam to determine what has happened. From the pictures, one possibility is that she is adjusting how she sits to extend the injured leg out - if she is not putting any weight on that leg then she may have broken it, or injured a ligament. There are also a couple of illnesses that can occur in a young growing dog, thses can be diagnosed with an exam and xrays. If she is limping she should have pain relief - Do not use any human medicines as these may be toxic to her.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Related Searches

Dog ToysDog SuppliesDog FoodDog Pain Relief & Arthritis MedsDog Braces & SplintsDog Pain Medicine & ReliefDog Health & WellnessDog Treats & ChewsDog First Aid & RecoveryDog Lift Harnesses & WheelchairsDog Medicine and PrescriptionsDog Anxiety MedicationDog Recovery Cones & Surgical SuitsDog Bandages & Wound CareDog Hip & Joint SupplementsDog Seizure MedicationDog Vitamins & SupplementsPrescription Dog TreatsDog Incontinence & Bladder Control MedicineDog Blood Pressure Medication
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Share

Styled arrow button