Shining!

Her coat, her eyes, and her personality! 

We have made so much progress over the weekend.  The high-calorie foods that we have been feeding have been working wonders.  She is gaining strength every day.  Her dull, dry, lifeless coat is now beginning to shine like a healthy dog's coat should.  Her eyes are no longer glazed over either.  She is very alert and present now.

I think that the rescuing shelter did the best that they could for her.  I really do.  Most shelters would have euthanized a dog in that condition upon arrival.  But it just was not enough for a sick dog.  She was living outside in a community pen with a dozen other dogs.  I think that she was throwing up her food and they weren't noticing.  Any hungry shelter dogs would eagerly gobble up a recently eaten and expelled meal without a second thought (sorry to be gross, but it's true).  That is why she continued to get worse even though they saw her eating.  I honestly don't think she had 48 hours left in her when we got her.  Her body was rejecting the food and her vitals were all low.  Now that she has the meds she needs to keep the food down, her digestive system is up and running.  Her temp is normal, which means that her blood is circulating well again.  Her medical problems are mostly pointing to malnourishment so far. 

Oh, and most importantly...she tries to play with us now when we take her out to potty.  It's pretty pathetic looking, but she is feeling well enough to be happy and initiate play!  She is learning to be a dog!