Twitches

Twitches isn't just a pretty face (and pretty everything else). She's also a survivor. Read how she fought for life and won - with lots of help from owner Vishakha and Kartik. 

Vishakha's story:















































I got Twitches when she was a few days old. She was still blind and deaf. She was found by the roadside by somebody who already had nine dogs and 16 cats and couldn't care for such a small puppy. So I volunteered to take her for seven days. 

I had to feed her every two hours and burp her and make her poop and pee. By the end of the whole process it seemed like I had to start all over again. 
































I live alone so I was constantly on dog duty. Every morning my boyfriend would come and relieve me for a few hours. It was EXHAUSTING.































Then she got aspiration pneumonia because of an unformed palate. 

I saw her gasping for breath at 2 a.m. So I called my vet, who said with such a small puppy you should be prepared for the worst. I asked him if there was anything I could do other than hold her upside-down and shake the liquid out of her lungs. He said go get her oxygen at the animal hospital. 

So at 2 a.m. I took a cab to the hospital, bawling and crying all the way. It was during the Ganpati festival so we were held up in traffic. But when we finally got there the doctor on duty said there was nothing wrong with her, she was just hungry, and sent me home. 

Next day we took her to the vet, did x-rays and tests and found she had aspiration pneumonia. She couldn't breathe. So we started her off on antibiotics and other medication. It was a 10 day course and soon she was better. I had almost lost her that night. I never slept till she got better because I was scared she would die of breathlessness. The worst sight ever is to see a little helpless puppy gasp and cry for breath. 

My boyfriend and I watched her constantly for the next few months.  

Learning to stand and walk

She has a slight squint

Growing bigger

Now she's 4.5 months and 10 kilos. I miss her being 200 grams and the size of my palm. 

She has adorably weird ears

She thinks I'm going to brush her teeth here. She LOVES
brushing teeth.

She likes to drive

At 4.5 months and 10 kilos

With friends Tommy and Chinky

With Kartik and friends Tommy and Chinky. Tommy and Chinky are Dr Manik Godbole's family!

With Chinky and Tommy

It was totally worthwhile taking her in. She's absolutely adorable and beautiful and pretty obedient for a four-month old. 

I plan to go to the US soon and will take her with me.

Photos and story: Vishakha
Mumbai

Read about Chinky and Tommy here.

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