Paw Print

My oldest dog Tahoe who is 12 is diabetic - diagnosed about 2 .5 years ago.  On the onset of diabetes we noticed a change in several of his behaviors - he constantly laid at his water bowl and drank tons constantly, obvious frequent urination since he was almost attached to his water bowl, increased appetite (ravenous no matter if he had just eaten a meal) and he was loosing weight.  When I took him to the vet (Dr. Evan Feinberg, a very good vet) he pretty quickly knew what the [problem was but a blood test would confirm his diagnosis.  Sure enough the blood test came back confirming Tahoe had EXTREMELY high blood sugar - he told me Tahoe’s sugar level should be about 250 and it was over 900!  So now what do we do for Tahoe?  Well, as it turns out Tahoe receives two shots of insulin a day (morning and evening) to keep his sugar levels in control.  The dosage of insulin has increased over the past two years but he no longer is attached to water bowl, has gained back some weight and his appetite is no longer unlimited.  However, with all that said there are side effects to canine and human diabetes which include cataracts and clouded vision - Tahoe has now lost almost of all his eyesight seeing only peripherally but not straight on.  He does pretty well navigating around the house and the yard knowing where things are but he will occasionally walk into something that has been there for 10 years or often walks into his brother Ryder if Ryder stops directly in front of him.  A visit to the canine Ophthalmologist gave us options - do nothing (he’ll adjust to not seeing but don’t rearrange the furniture), have cataract surgery on both eyes or have cataract surgery on just one.  There are many schools of thought - he’s 12 and has a few other arthritic issues so let him be, have both eyes done or what I’m thinking is to have just one eye done.  The surgery is just like a human cataract operation putting a lens in his eye - he should be able to regain at least 90% of his vision with the surgery.  I’m thinking with all of the other considerations previously mentioned that he would be so much better off with one eye done that I don’t think both eyes are necessary.  Any one know differently or have been in this situation and have suggestions?  His recovery time is about 4 weeks of which two will require a collar so he does not scratch his eye - so much for fitting through the doggie door!