Things really do seem to be looking up.

Bao has gained a pound. He's eating more or less normally -- he's allowed to have a small amount of boiled chicken with his veterinary diet. I shred the chicken and make little "sandwiches" with chicken shreds on the outside and the healthy stuff hidden inside. This works.

He's definitely stronger. We've gone back to doing our morning and afternoon walks. I bring his stroller along, and when he starts to get tired, I put him in the stroller and we come home. Each morning, he's walking a little bit further. He went to the groomer a couple of days ago, for a "gentle" bath. I'm sure he feels a lot better. He certainly smells better.

To me, this is a miracle. Two weeks ago, he was walking in the valley of the shadow of death -- I truly feared he wouldn't make it.

We still don't know what happened. Anaerobic bacteria? Infection? Fungus? Nobody has a clue. Have other dogs had this? We don't know that, either. Sometimes, people can't afford to take their pets to the vet, especially in these difficult times.

But whatever it was, it seems to have run its course. Fingers crossed!