Is Your Dog Losing His Hearing?
Scotty Valadao / Friends of the Dog
Scotty Valadao / Friends of the Dog
As dogs age or face certain health conditions, some may begin to lose their hearing. While this is a natural part of the aging process for some dogs, sudden or gradual deafness can affect your dog’s behaviour, communication, and overall quality of life. What is important, is for you to know what is normal behaviour for your dog with regard to hearing related responses, as then it is easier to pick up early signs that your dog has a problem with hearing.
As a dog owner, knowing how to identify and manage canine deafness is crucial for maintaining a strong bond with your furry friend. Here’s a guide on how to identify and deal with dog deafness effectively.
1. Some Tips to help you identify that a problem with hearing may be occurring - some examples
2. Common Reasons for Impaired Hearing
3, What to Do
If you are suspicious that your dog is becoming hearing impaired, then start a diary the second you suspect same. You may think that you will remember everything when you take your dog to the vet, but there is a good chance you may not. The more information we can give our vets about our dogs condition the better - we are with them 24/7, so even though your vet will give your dog a full exam, make their jobs easier by giving them as much information as you can.
4. Living with a Deaf Dog
If your dog has been diagnosed with deafness, it’s important to adapt your lifestyle to help them live comfortably. Here are some helpful tips:
As a dog owner, knowing how to identify and manage canine deafness is crucial for maintaining a strong bond with your furry friend. Here’s a guide on how to identify and deal with dog deafness effectively.
1. Some Tips to help you identify that a problem with hearing may be occurring - some examples
- Your dog stops reacting to common sounds such as his name being called (just first establish if your dog is not just ignoring you!). Other examples could be the dog is not reacting to the doorbell - the dustbin truck - a car coming up your driveway. Dogs do not generally go deaf overnight, it can happen over time, so you may find that sometimes the dog hears the noise, but not all the time - it can also be dependent on the distance away from the noise.
- If you have your doubts, an easy way to determine if hearing loss is occurring, is to wait until your dog is asleep, or not looking at you and make some loud noises such as clapping your hands or calling his name, rattling something such as paper in your hands, and see if your dog reacts to the noise at all. The dog should respond in some way such as ears perking up or turning towards you. If your dog does not respond at all, this could mean their hearing is not fully functionable.
- Some dogs may bark more frequently if they cant hear themselves, which can lead to anxiety and confusion about their surroundings.
- Dogs with impaired hearing may become easily frightened or startled when someone approaches them without making any noise.
- A dog with hearing loss might seem confused or appear to struggle with direction or navigation, especially in unfamiliar environments and may seem confused
- Dogs that can’t hear may become more anxious or agitated when unable to hear stimuli like approaching people, sounds of danger, or their owners calling.
2. Common Reasons for Impaired Hearing
- Age-related hearing loss, just like many of us humans!
- Genetically related. Some breeds are more predisposed to congenital deafness than other breeds. Three breeds where hearing problems may be genetically linked are the Dalmatian, Australian Cattle Dogs and Bull Terrier.
- Ear infections, especially if untreated, can lead to temporary or permanent hearing loss.
- Trauma: Injuries to the ear can damage hearing structures and lead to deafness.
- Toxins or medications: Some medications, especially certain antibiotics, can cause hearing loss as a side effect.
3, What to Do
If you are suspicious that your dog is becoming hearing impaired, then start a diary the second you suspect same. You may think that you will remember everything when you take your dog to the vet, but there is a good chance you may not. The more information we can give our vets about our dogs condition the better - we are with them 24/7, so even though your vet will give your dog a full exam, make their jobs easier by giving them as much information as you can.
4. Living with a Deaf Dog
If your dog has been diagnosed with deafness, it’s important to adapt your lifestyle to help them live comfortably. Here are some helpful tips:
- You and your dog are entering into a new phase in your relationship, so the calmer you are about the situation and the easier you accept the change, the more likely your dog is to be relaxed - dogs do pick up on our stress levels.
- Keep your dog safely behind walling or fencing - if your dog cant hear, the area outside the home can be especially dangerous - all walks should be on lead for your dogs safety. If your dog was used to being off lead, then consider the use of a long line - this still gives them freedom to explore, and you the ability to guide them back to you.
- Add a bell onto your dogs collar, so that you can keep track of where they are in the home or the garden.
- Even if your dog is microchipped, consider adding a tag to the collar to say that your dog is deaf in the event he does get lost
- Avoid startling a deaf dog - approach from the front, using visual cues, such as a torch or laser, to let them know you are approaching
- Consider a vibrating collar - not a shock collar-which gives off a gentle vibration. This lets your dog know you are approaching and can also be used as a training aid.
- Re-teach your dog basic commands, using hand signals. Here is a website we came across, however, do Google as there are many others.
- With assistance from your vet, keep a eye on ear health to ensure no wax build up and ears are kept clean. Also speak to your vet to ensure that your dogs sight is kept in best possible health.
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