Many of you may have, or at least know someone who has, a deaf dog. In this article I am going to share some thoughts on how deafness affects dogs.
How Deafness Affects Dogs
Deafness can come about at any point in the dog’s lifetime. If a puppy is born this way (known as congenital deafness), the hearing loss can either be caused by something that happened during fetal development or it can be genetic.
Some breeds have a bigger chance of developing congenital deafness. Dalmations are more apt to deafness, either unilaterally (in one ear) or bilaterally (both ears). Bull terriers are also at higher risk, especially those that are white in color.
While many breeders tests their puppies for hearing loss before selling them, it is always good for you to check for yourself — whether you are buying from a breeder or adopting from an animal shelter or rescue group.
A Deaf Dog ‘Doesn’t Miss Anything’
According to the book My Dog Is Deaf: But Lives Life to the Full, by Jennifer Willms, if your dog is diagnosed as deaf, this shouldn’t mean that your pet can’t live a pretty normal life. The dog doesn’t realize he even has a disability. “He lacks a sense of hearing,” Willms says, “but since he is not aware of this, he doesn’t miss anything.”
You can use methods of communication to suffice for the lack of hearing. Unlike wild dogs, who would probably encounter feeding and self-protection issues, your pet should have no problem learning to handle his impairment. After all, he’ll have you at his side! The dalmatian pictured above, by the way, is completely deaf. He was trained for agility through the use of hand signals.
In the video below, professional trainer Matt Covey demonstrates some commands for a deaf dog:
Potential behavioral problems in deaf dogs depend hugely on the owner. Hey, even dogs who have perfect hearing need the right nurturing to exhibit model behavior!
Sudden Hearing Loss in Dogs
Sudden onset of deafness may be caused by a number of things, including ear infection, noise and inappropriate ear medications.
Certain medications can cause deafness by destroying the cochlear hair cells. According to Chris C. Pinney, DVM, antibiotics in the aminoglycosides class of ear medications, such as gentamycin and neomycin, might cause nerve deafness if applied into an ear with a ruptured eardrum. This is why it’s so important to see a veterinarian to diagnose and correctly treat ear problems.
The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook reports that a middle ear infection can lead to temporary or even permanent deafness. Your veterinarian can make sure your pet gets the proper treatment to clear up the infection.
Gradual Onset
Sudden deafness is not always sudden, however. Your pet may have had a gradual decrease in his sense of hearing, without your ever noticing it.
Extremely loud noises can also harm a canine’s ears. Noises like gunfire or fireworks are too fast for the ear to react, therefore causing inner damage. Consistent exposure to these sounds can lead to deafness in one or both ears.
As with humans, deafness in dogs can sometimes be linked to old age. When nerve cells in the inner ear begin breaking down, hearing loss begins.
BAER Test
Having reflected on a few factors of how deafness affects dogs, I will now give you some advice on how to determine if your dog is, in fact, deaf. The BAER test is 100 percent reliable, and uses computers to record the activity of your pet’s brain in response to sound stimulation.
The difference between wondering if your dog is deaf and knowing for certain that he is can be as simple as having a BAER test done. Whatever the outcome, the two of you can make simple adjustments to enjoy life together.
Additional Resources
- Louisiana State University: Genetics of deafness in dogs
- Deaf Dog Education Action Fund: Frequently asked questions
Photo: Sam Cockman/Flickr
