About What causes deafness in dogs? Dogs can be deaf for various reasons, and the symptoms may not always be as obvious as you think.
Who better to tell you what things could cause deafness in dogs than a veterinarian who specializes in animals who are deaf? Dr. Genevieve Jaffe discusses the different causes of deafness, how it might manifest in your pet, and what your vet might do to diagnose or treat it.
What causes deafness in dogs?
Dr. Jaffe Answers the Question When a dog is deaf, it’s more than just missing out on the sounds of a squeaky toy or the rumble of an approaching car.
Dogs who can’t hear will have difficulty becoming socialized, understanding commands, and being comfortable with their surroundings, which means they will have trouble adapting to life as a pet.
That’s why it’s important to know what causes deafness in dogs and whether there is any way to treat it.
Are some dogs more likely to be born deaf?
Three separate areas of the ear can be affected by deafness:
1. The ear canal – The opening of the ear canal is closed in some dogs. Other dogs have a narrow or malformed ear canal, so sound can’t get into their ear. This is called conductive deafness.
2. The middle and inner ear – The middle and inner ears are responsible for collecting and channeling sound to the brain. This channel can become blocked if there is an infection, inflammation, fluid buildup, or aging changes in these parts of the ear. This is called sensorineural deafness.
3. The outer ear – Dogs with profound hearing loss may also have a problem with the outer ear. This is called conductive deafness and is more common in dogs older than four.
What causes dogs to go deaf over time?
People can suffer from hearing loss due to normal aging or some disease or medical condition. But dogs’ hearing ability is easier to lose than an average human’s.
This is because the ear canal is closed in many dogs, and sounds are hard to get into their ear, especially in older dogs.
Once the middle and inner ears show changes that make them less efficient at collecting sound, the dog becomes deaf, and there’s no treatment available.
How can I tell if my dog is deaf?
Dogs who are deaf may seem to ignore what’s going on around them, especially when there are multiple noises, such as a television or a radio on.
They may seem to be startled by everyday sounds or things that move. They might not react the way you expect them to when you call their name or clap your hands.
How do I keep my deaf dog safe?
The most important thing you can do to help your deaf dog is to keep them safe and secure. This means steps such as:
Here are The Best 10 Tips For Safe:
1. Make sure your pet has a safe place to rest, like a crate or another house they know well. Also, ensure they have enough space, so they’re not confining themselves to a small area.
2. Make sure that when your dog goes outside, he/she is wearing properly fitting identification tags with your contact information and vet information in case they get lost.
3. Prevent your dog from jumping off decks, porches, or walking near windows.
4. Make sure your dog can’t get into unsafe areas where it might get hurt.
5. Keep dangerous chemicals out of reach and ensure your pet doesn’t ingest poisons, medications, or household cleaning products.
6. Teach children how to treat a deaf dog with kindness but firmness and to be gentle when approaching your dog and interacting with them.
7. Make sure that your deaf dog is not aggressive and that you don’t allow children to play with them.
8. Make sure your deaf dog doesn’t get into the garbage, where he could get attacked by other dogs or be hurt by the sharp things in the trash.
9. Using a leash or halter for training purposes only and never as a weapon to control your pet when you’re angry or frustrated.
10. Deaf dogs can still learn to communicate with their humans using hand signals, sign language, or other ways.
How can my deaf dog live a long and healthy life?
A deaf dog can lead a full and happy life if you’re willing to work with them. Working with a trainer and getting advice from your vet can help you teach basic dog commands like sit, stay, and come.
Remember that your dog will be less aware of his surroundings than dogs who can hear, so you’ll have to be careful when it’s time to cross streets or go out into busy areas. It would help if you also were cautious about what toys and treats you give your dog; make sure they are appropriately sized for his mouth so his teeth don’t hurt him when he chews them.
Can you do anything for a deaf dog?
Depending on the area of the ear that’s affected and whether or not it’s causing any pain for your pet, your vet might:
1. Treat any disease or infection in the ears. This can help keep sound channels clear so your dog can hear better.
2. Perform surgery to correct ear canal defects.
3. Check to see if there are other problems with your dog’s hearing by running tests that detect vibrations – these would include things like special stethoscopes, tuning forks, and specialized computer programs.
Your pet’s hearing may have poor sound transmission to the inner ear because there is damage to the channels or the ears.
4. Perform tests to measure your dog’s hearing threshold and provide audiograms – graphs of sounds measured as “pure tones” – to confirm whether your pet is deaf.
5. Measure the quality of sound coming from your dog’s ears.
How do you get a deaf dog to listen?
You won’t be able to train a deaf dog using normal commands. While you can teach him in other ways, such as hand signals and sign language, you have the greatest chance of success if you start training your pet as a puppy.
Are dogs sad when they go deaf?
Dogs don’t have the language skills to express a lot of emotion, and deaf dogs have even fewer ways to communicate what they’re feeling.
They can express the emotions that are most important to them, like happiness and joy. But sadness isn’t as common in dogs as it is in people.
Unless you can communicate with your dog on an emotional level, you probably won’t know if your pet is sad about losing his hearing.
How can I make my deaf dog more comfortable?
Here are a few things you can do to help your dog adjust to being deaf.
1. Keep everyday items around your home. This can help your pet feel more comfortable and give him something to focus on when it’s time for you to leave the house or go to bed.
2. Grab your pet’s attention with treats or body language instead of voice commands. You can also ensure the lights are off and the background noise is minimal before you call his name or try to get him to come over.
3. Make sure your pet has enough food, water, and exercise, so he’s in good shape.
4. If you plan to travel a lot, it’s best to leave your pet at home with a friend or neighbor willing to ensure he gets plenty of attention and exercise.
5. Regularly grooming, brushing, and washing your pet can help keep his coat healthy and clean; this will also help the airways around his nose stay clear and help him breathe better in warm weather or when he’s been active outdoors.
6. If your dog is a swimmer, make sure he can’t get water into his ears by having a water dish that only drains into the toilet.
What do dogs think when deaf?
While dogs lead a pretty basic life, they’re smart animals who learn faster than animals with a more complex language. Because they communicate mainly with body language, your dog might not be upset when he loses hearing.
However, he will probably feel some of the change. Dogs understand other things; they may recognize when you’re leaving by the way you put on your coat or the sound of the door closing when you walk out of the house.
Do deaf dogs sleep more?
Deaf dogs don’t need to sleep more than other dogs. Most dogs spend 14 to 16 hours a day sleeping, with just a few waking hours between resting and exploring.
Dogs who are deaf may sleep even less than other dogs since there’s no point in spending time in their kennel during the day if there’s no one around to talk to them or play with them.
Is it harder for deaf dogs?
If your dog is alert and healthy, he’ll adjust pretty well to being a deaf dog. He’ll learn to adapt to certain situations, and you may never have to worry about his hearing again.
However, if he’s already showing signs of health problems or has a medical problem, you may want to see a vet sooner rather than later to address his need for a hearing at the earliest opportunity.
Conclusion
Deaf dogs are a minority in the canine world but can make wonderful companions. Deaf dogs can live long, happy lives and be taught new skills if the proper precautions are taken.
Most deaf dogs do well when their hearing is restored or go to a special school for deaf dogs. We hope this article has provided you with information to help your deaf dog live a long, happy life. Thank you for reading this article about the What Causes Deafness In Dogs?.
