Dog Hearing Loss: Causes and Symptoms As your dog loses his hearing, you might find him “ignoring” your cues, such as not sitting when asked or failing to come when you call him. Or he may seem confused by his surroundings or by your requests.
Living with deafness may take some time to get used to—usually for the human more than the dog! Dogs who become deaf, especially later in life, typically do not experience any anxiety over their loss of hearing and seem to have very little trouble adapting to their condition.
Dogs really don't care if either or none of the other dogs can hear. Remember, a dog born deaf doesn't know it's missing anything! It has no frame of reference to know what hearing is. Even so, the study suggests that despite their wackadoodle appearances, dogs can identify other dogs by sight alone.
Nothing ever gets a good dog down. As a veterinarian, I've seen it time and time again: dogs with handicaps find a way to not only cope but to live joyously. How others see them doesn't matter.
Deaf dogs may bark less than other dogs, and the voice may sound odd. They frequently develop behavior problems because of their inability to understand human communication, and because they may be easily startled or frightened by the unexpected.
Deaf dogs have an excellent sense of sight and a much better sense of smell than dogs who can hear. Deaf dogs are alert, so they should have no problems knowing when there is danger around them. Dogs are social creatures and greatly rely on their sense of hearing to communicate with other dogs.
Although they require a shift in technique, they aren't much more of a commitment than any other dog. You need to teach them basic obedience, just as you would with a dog who can hear, and with a few other lessons like focus and startle resistance, your deaf dog can understand and obey you with ease.
It's important to remember that deaf dogs sleep very deeply, so always wake them gently to avoid startling them.
Some deaf dogs may become anxious if they find their owner is suddenly gone. Inform your dog when you leave or enter the house by tapping him gently on the back. Approach carefully. Many deaf dogs are easily startled, especially when sleeping.
Sometimes you can get your deaf dog's attention via vibrations. Tapping or stomping on the floor may make create a vibration large enough to attract your dog's attention. Once your dog looks at you, mark and reinforce that attention. In addition, waving hands or arms at a distance can gain your dog's interest.
Dogs that are experiencing hearing loss may bark more constantly than dogs with full hearing. In some cases, this might be caused by anxiety and frustration from not being able to hear. They also won't be able to know how loud they're barking, which can lead them to keep going.
If your dog is totally deaf, do not allow him out of a fenced area unless on a leash. Some otherwise deaf dogs can hear certain frequencies such as a shrill dog whistle.
Loss of hearing, cognitive dysfunction, central nervous system disorders and medical conditions can all contribute to your dog's excessive vocalization. He might whine or howl if he feels the urge to eliminate more, if he's overeating and wants you to give him more food, or if he's in pain.
Dogs can cry in one of two ways: vocally, in a way that tugs at our heartstrings, and with tears. When it comes to those sad-sounding noises, your pooch is most likely trying to express excitement, frustration, anxiety or pain.
Sadly, hearing loss due to genetics, old age, and trauma is often permanent and untreatable. However, acquired deafness (due to an infection or blocked ear canal) is usually temporary with veterinary care. If you suspect your pet may have lost their hearing, see a vet ASAP.
Separation Anxiety is when deaf dogs are left alone unattended and they become destructive. If you leave your deaf dog alone and your deaf dog proceeds to urinate, defecate, barks non-stop, digs up floors and rugs, chews up furniture, or tries to escape his crate, then there is a strong possibility your dog has SA.
Separation Anxiety – Deaf dogs may have separation issues because they cannot hear. For example, if you leave a dog in a crate she or he may panic about being alone because it cannot hear activity in the next room.
Congenital deafness has been found in over 80 different breeds, but it may be found in any breed. Those dogs with spots, dapples, or merle coats or those with white skin or fur are predisposed to congenital deafness. The most commonly affected breed is the Dalmatian, of which there are almost 30% that are deaf.
With a deaf dog, the owner must be willing to get up off of the sofa, go over to the dog, get the dog's attention, give a hand signal command for “no,” and redirect the dog to the proper behavior (in this instance, playing with a dog toy instead). This is where consistency becomes important.
Dogs who are partially deaf or only deaf in one ear cannot tell where the storm sounds are coming from and may react in a more extreme manner than dogs who can hear. Dogs with separation anxiety are much more likely to develop storm phobia.
Dogs that carry the piebald gene (affects the distribution and amount of white color) are often affected by deafness. Piebaldism is the result of the absence of melanocytes, the cells that create the pigment melanin.
In fact, a dog without hearing can be even more loving, as he has learned to rely on his other senses. He will stick closer to you so that he can see your movements and snuggle up close so that he can feel your closeness. Never let deafness in your dog discourage you.