A tiny Chihuahua born with a genetic defect has returned to work. Thanks to some ingenuity and a little faith from a veterinarian in Indianapolis.
The Downtown Veterinarian’s practice manager, Amy Birk, said she was leaving almost two weeks ago. When a couple came in with a dog wrapped in a towel
“They weren’t themselves,” Birk told TODAY.com. Other clinics told owners they couldn’t help them and “they didn’t want the dogs to be euthanized,” Birk said.
The couple explained that their Chihuahua had given birth to a litter of puppies. including small that they carry This is now known as the Turbo whose front legs are not yet developed.
They found that when they started weaning from their mother, Which is why at 4 weeks he only weighs 10 ounces.
But Birk didn’t see this as the end of the little man.
“I said, ‘I didn’t euthanize the puppy,’” she recalls, “unless there were other complications affecting his quality of life, like a cleft lip and palate.”
So the couple signed the puppy to the vet to get him the help he needed. Upon examination, it appeared that in addition to physical disabilities The dog is fine
For Birk, this means great things for little Turbo. “This is a Chihuahua,” she says. “It’s small enough and can push well.”
But since the disabled dog wasn’t able to be attached to a wheelchair until the age of 6 months, the clinic had to get creative by installing a turbo for some wheels right away.
Use of ferret straps pipe from a toy welding set and wheels from a Fisher-Price toy helicopter. They were able to get the Turbo to move in an improvised wagon.
And thanks to his new car he has made great strides.
“We worked with him every day,” says Birk. “He can crawl on your arm today.”
The Turbo, which now weighs in at a pound, is still full of prowess. Eager to roll around and play
Birk had seen many dogs with injuries like this before. Whether caused by a genetic predisposition or accident. in both situations These dogs try to overcome their disabilities.
“You’d be surprised how resilient they are,” she said.
And while he’s on the right track, Birk is wary about the number of people calling to show interest in adopting the Turbo.
“He’s no stranger to this,” she said. … He had to go to a house that understood his needs.”
At this moment, Birk was very pleased that he had come this far. “He has a lot of life in him,” she said.
