Update: In the Twinkle of a (Dog's) Eye

Last July, I wrote about a doggy dilemma:  do I take my aging dog in for ophthalmic surgery, or not?  By denying my dog care, was I dooming him to pain and suffering?  Blindness?

He'd been scratching his eye and squinting, and the vet diagnosed him with a torn cornea.  Often those heal on their own, but for Miser Dog, not.  We were encouraged to take him in for more intensive treatment, but I decided not to.  I figured his advanced age didn't warrant serious intervention.  But I did worry that I might be soon taking care of a blind-in-one-eye dog.

Now, lo these many months later, I am happy to report that Miser Dog is fine.  He gallantly helps with clean-up of dishes, as yesterday's post shows.  He also bravely defends our home from squirrels and joggers by standing sentry atop his dog house.  If any intruders come too close, he woofs them away.

Miser Dog standing guard.  

 The dog house stands over a window well, outside the window to our dining room, and within a fenced-in dog run.  The dog door that lets him back into the dog house is down in the window well.  A set of hand-built stairs helps him get from the floor of the basement up to his dog door, which we set in a panel of wood where the window used to be.  From there he passes through the door, and hops up from the window well to the level ground (and from there up onto the top of his dog house).

Miser Dog heads outside for a little fresh air.

 To get back in the house, he just reverses the process.   He's got quite a bit of pep still in him.  And he seems to be none the worse for wear in spite of last summer's cornea concerns.  In fact, you might say he still likes to keep an eye on things.

Are there any dangerous dachshunds walking by on the right?  No . .

Nope; don't see any dangerous dachshunds!

 Any scurrilous squirrels threatening from the left?   No . . .

Thought I mighta saw a squirrel, but it retreated.

By the way, notice the total lack of squint.  It looks like his eyes healed up okay, even without professional intervention.

Okay, then, Miser Dog's sentry duty is done, and it's safe to come back in the house.

Welcome back, Miser Dog!