Hearing impairment in dogs. Symptoms, treatment. Deafness in dogs and treatment of hearing loss

Quite often, dogs experience a persistent weakening of hearing up to its complete absence - deafness. This pathology is a violation of the perception of sounds of the surrounding world. Sudden hearing loss and progression of pathology cannot escape the attention of the owner, since in this case the pet’s behavior changes significantly. The dog, who previously obeyed unquestioningly, responded to his name, and was frightened by fireworks, suddenly ceases to understand commands, does not respond to a familiar voice, and becomes indifferent to the sounds of fireworks. Such changes clearly indicate a sharp decline in the quality of hearing, and this cannot leave the owner indifferent. Why did this happen, how to recognize deafness and what needs to be done in such a case? We will examine these questions in this article.

Classification of the disease

Deafness in dogs is classified according to several criteria:

1. Depending on the origin and causes, hearing loss can be congenital or acquired.
2. According to the degree of involvement in the pathological process: one-sided and two-sided.
3. According to the nature of the pathology: complete or partial.
4. According to the reversibility of the process: temporary and permanent.
5. According to the period of development of hearing disorders: sudden, acute and chronic.

Congenital deafness

The causes of congenital deafness in a dog can be the following:

• hereditary pathology;
• disorders and infections of intrauterine development.

It is very important to identify a hereditary pathology in a dog in a timely manner, since it is permanent and cannot be treated. Such animals are excluded from the breeding program and are not allowed to breed, so as not to deteriorate the quality of the breed.

This type of deafness is associated with the presence of defective genes. As in cats, it occurs where there is white pigmentation. Dogs have two similar genes: the merle gene (can be found in collies, American Foxhounds, and Old English Sheepdogs) and the piebald (spotted) gene. It can be possessed by (bull terriers, English setters, Dalmatians, bulldogs). The presence of “forbidden” genes is the main cause of impaired blood supply to the cochlea in the first days after the birth of a puppy. At this time, his ear canals are still closed. The cochlea cells soon die, and the dog develops hearing problems for life.

The likelihood of hereditary pathology of the hearing organ is especially high in dogs at risk, which includes:

• dogs with white and blue irises;
• animals of white, marbled or spotted color;
• dogs with breed predisposition. These are representatives of about 50 breeds (cocker spaniel, bull terrier, beagle, Scottish shepherd, Dalmatian and others).

Acquired deafness

The dog may become deaf later in life. Acquired deafness has various causes. Depending on them, it is divided into several types:

1. Conductive deafness is caused by a mechanical obstacle to the transmission and perception of sound. Similar disorders occur when the external auditory canal is damaged, the eardrum is damaged, or complications of otitis media occur.
2. Sensorineural deafness can be caused by damage to the sound-receiving apparatus, structures of the inner ear, the central part of the sound analyzer, and the auditory nerve. Causes: bacteria, viruses, autoimmune diseases that cause irreversible processes in the ear structures.
3. Mixed deafness - occurs when exposed to factors of conductive and mixed hearing loss.

Unilateral and bilateral hearing loss

With unilateral hearing loss, one ear is affected, and with bilateral hearing loss, both are involved. At home, it is difficult to determine the nature of involvement. For such diagnostics, there is special equipment in veterinary clinics.

Temporary and permanent deafness

Deafness in dogs can be temporary or permanent, depending on what disease it is a symptom of. If the primary pathology does not lead to irreversible changes in the body, then hearing will gradually be restored. The most common cause of temporary deafness is ear plugs.

Permanent deafness can develop as a result of complications of infectious diseases, traumatic lesions, tumor pathologies (leading to irreversible changes), as well as hereditary and senile deafness.

Sudden, acute and chronic deafness

Sudden deafness got its name because of its rapid development. Its causes may be some viruses, cancer, injuries and circulatory disorders in the ear structures. With this type of deafness, in some cases, the animal’s ability to hear may be fully or partially restored after some period of time.

Acute deafness - develops as a symptom of a disease that occurs in an acute form. Hearing deterioration can progress over several days, after which it is replaced by complete deafness.

Chronic hearing loss develops over several months. It can be stable or progressive.

Most common causes of deafness

The main causes of deafness in dogs are:

• Blockage of the ear canal. The ear canal may suffer due to wax plugs (if hygienic care rules are not followed), foreign bodies or insects entering the ear, and inflammatory processes.
• Injury to various structures of the outer, middle or inner ear, rupture of the eardrum. They can be caused by improper ear cleaning, changes in atmospheric pressure while traveling on an airplane (during a sudden increase or decrease in altitude), exposure to loud noise, or improper ear cropping.
• Pathologies of the auditory nerve. These are caused by developmental anomalies, hydrocephalus, tumors affecting the auditory nerve, inflammatory diseases of the inner ear, and drug-induced lesions.
• Parasitic infestations that provoke inflammation of the external structures, spreading to the inner ear.
• Senile hearing loss begins to develop when the dog reaches 7-8 years of age, with the appearance of other external signs of aging. This type of hearing loss develops especially often in dogs that have suffered numerous otitises during their lives.

No less detrimental to dog ears is prolonged stay in an area where the noise level exceeds the norm (living near railway tracks). Quite often hearing is affected in hunting dogs.

Hearing loss for a dog in old age is not so catastrophic. Having lived with her owner all her life, she got used to watching the changes in his facial expression, sometimes reading his lips. A good prevention of senile hearing loss and deafness is timely treatment of otitis media.

Signs of deafness in dogs

Often the first signs of deafness in dogs go unnoticed. Pet owners attribute the lack of response to calls to the dog’s whims and reluctance to follow commands. The most common symptoms of deafness are the following:

1. Deafness is characterized by damage to only one ear. In this regard, the dog is unable to determine the localization of sound. 2. The animal ignores sounds that were previously interesting to it. We are talking, for example, about dogs barking on the street or strangers talking at the entrance. 3. Lack of reaction from the dog to his name. 4. Lack of reaction to sharp sounds and clapping of hands. 5. Reduced activity of the animal. 6. Disorder of coordination and balance. Diseases and recommendations for the Jack Russell Terrier

Symptoms of deafness

Congenital deafness is not felt by dogs because they have never known what sound is. They are accustomed to relying on other senses and achieve perfection in this. Congenital deafness does not bother them at all.

Determining the hearing status of animals is important for breeders, since animals with congenital hearing impairment are not allowed to be bred. At an early age, puppies are tested using a special “BAER” test. This test allows you to determine the presence of deviations with a high percentage of accuracy. It involves measuring the bioelectrical response of the brain stem to various types of sounds presented to the dog in each ear through headphones. Animals that show poor test results are excluded from the breeding program and are not allowed to breed.

If a dog becomes deaf at a later age, this can be determined by the characteristics of its behavior. There are signs that indicate that the dog cannot hear at all:

• do not respond to their name;
• it is impossible to wake up by calling, but only by touching;
• when walking, they do not understand long-familiar commands and are often disoriented;
• there are signs of pain in the ears (tilt the head, scratch the ears, shake the head);
• They get scared if you approach her from behind.

How to make a diagnosis

If deafness is suspected, the animal is taken to a veterinarian. Only a doctor can make a competent diagnosis in a clinical setting. After checking the dog’s reaction to sound stimuli, he will prescribe an additional examination to diagnose the disorders that caused deafness:

1. Examining the ears with an otoscope will help identify conductive abnormalities - the presence of pathologies of the auditory structures and ear canals.
2. X-ray examination, as well as MRI and CT diagnostics are aimed at identifying the presence and nature of pathologies in the internal parts of the ear and brain.
3. A neurological examination is aimed at identifying neurosensory disorders and the condition of the auditory nerve.

Treatment of the disease in dogs

Treatment of the disease is prescribed after a diagnostic examination, consisting of:

• inspection;
• sound testing;
• X-ray, CT and MRI;
• neurological examination.

Therapy is determined based on the established causes of the disease:

In case of neurological diseases and significant injuries, the disease, as a rule, cannot be cured. It is only possible to stop the development of the disease.

Congenital deafness, like senile deafness, cannot be cured.

Treatment of the disease

Congenital deafness cannot be cured. In most cases, the dog adapts to its position in childhood and does not suffer from its deficiency. Personalized hearing medications can sometimes be used, but they are often disruptive and are not always well received by dogs.

Treatment of acquired deafness is aimed at eliminating the main causes of the disease, identified during diagnosis:

1. When the ears are clogged with wax, competent mechanical cleaning of the ears is sufficient. It is better if a veterinarian does this.
2. If there is an inflammatory process in the internal structures of the ear, then, after stopping it, the ear is washed with antibacterial agents. In addition, general antimicrobial therapy is used to speed up recovery. During treatment, it is necessary to limit the dog’s exposure to the street to avoid complications.
3. If the eardrum is damaged and purulent exudate is released, the affected ear is cleaned and antibacterial therapy is used to prevent complications. Such lesions should be treated with rest. After a few days, the patient's condition should improve significantly.
4. There is no cure for senile hearing loss. The owner must help the dog adapt to its disadvantage. In some cases, commands are taught using gestures. It is recommended to walk with a deaf dog while keeping it on a leash.

Tips for caring for and maintaining a deaf dog

It will take some time and a lot of patience to establish normal life again with an animal that has lost hearing. It is not so much the dog that must retrain as its owner. For example, a very “old” animal strives to reduce its once active lifestyle to a passive and comfortable one. Such a dog will not experience significant anxiety with complete or partial hearing loss. The owner is obliged to do everything possible to help the pet adapt to the new realities of his life.

A dog's deafness is not a death sentence for the animal. Help your four-legged friend better adapt to new conditions. Love, care and patience will help provide your pet with a comfortable and happy life.

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Prevention measures

The main preventive measures are as follows:

1. From an early age, it is important to maintain hygiene of the ears and canals, cleaning them as necessary.
2. Regularly take your pet to the veterinarian for a preventive examination of the condition of the hearing organ.
3. Avoid frequent hypothermia, which can cause otitis media.

In addition, before purchasing a puppy, you should always ask the breeder whether its parents had hearing impairments. This is especially true for representatives of certain breeds and merle dogs that are predisposed to congenital deafness. It is also worth checking the baby's hearing status. To do this, make a loud sound (for example, slamming a door). Lack of response is a clear indication that the dog has very poor hearing.