Are there earplugs for dogs? Expert Advice

What are the reasons to buy Rex Specs Ear Pro by Zeteo Tech dog hearing protection?

The Rex Specs Ear Pro is constructed with the best low frequency noise blocking foam that could be found and tested.

Hearing protection is only as good as its fit.

There are no holes or penetrations in the foam. There are no adjustments or straps that need to be fine-tuned for a good fit. If the Rex Specs Ear Pro moves a little – it still works. Other products lose effectiveness when the product moves away from the ear.

When does hearing protection for dogs make sense?

If youve ever been to a dog pound or shelter, you know that there is often a deafening noise from the dogs barking. For the dogs living there, it can literally lead to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Hearing protection for dogs can help prevent this.

Especially for working dogs such as military, police, search and rescue dogs, hearing, both for the safety of the dog and the safety of the handler, is essential. Working dogs need to be able to navigate their environment and hear commands. But when dogs suffer from noise-induced hearing loss, they cant do this as well and can put everyone at risk. In some circumstances, these dogs may then be limited in their ability to function. Similar to humans, dogs can get damage to their sense of hearing from any form of sustained loud noise such as truck or helicopter transport, gunshots, or even a loud construction site nearby.

Thats why Rex Specs has partnered with Zeteo Tech and Dr. Peter M. Skip Scheifele, PhD – a leading animal audiologist in the United States – to help develop hearing protection for military dogs, active working dogs and their civilian counterparts. To answer all your questions about hearing protection for dogs, Rex Specs spoke directly with Dr. Scheifele. Heres what he had to say.

(Answers have been edited for clarity and efficiency).

What is noise-induced hearing loss?

Noise-induced hearing loss is what happens to the ear when it is exposed for extended periods of time to sounds that are in the range of the animals hearing frequency and loud enough to fatigue the stereocilia that form the tip of the hair cells in the inner ear. These stereocilia eventually fatigue to the point that they no longer function, so the brain can no longer receive sound from the ear.

How can you see if a dog is suffering from hearing loss?

We perform an actual audiological test called the BAER test – we call it the bear test, although it is not spelled like bear. This is an electrophysiological test that tells us what the dogs hearing threshold is in each ear. Hearing threshold is defined as the level the dog can actually hear at the time of the test.

Generally, we do these tests on puppies, and when we do a BAER screening test on a puppy, we put a very loud sound in the ear that the ear should absolutely be able to hear. If the dogs ear and brain do not respond to the sound, the puppy is deaf.

With an older dog, we would go through a series of different intensities and, wherever the intensity stops – where the waveforms no longer match, then we know that the dog can hear up to that point, but after that, it cant hear.

What are situations for noise-induced hearing loss in dogs?

There are actually many situations. But the bottom line is that any type of noise that is prolonged and intense within the frequency range that they can hear can cause hearing loss. For example, dogs kept in kennels (larger kennels in animal shelters that are not usually built to muffle sound) are exposed to noise from barking, etc. Dogs that are regularly exposed to gunfire – such as hunting dogs – can suffer noise-induced hearing loss. Even dogs kept in situations that are very noisy outside the home. Any of these things can cause hearing loss.

New and tested ear protection for dogs

How well does the Rex Specs Ear Pro by Zeteo Tech protect against noise? We adopted the best practices used by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to conduct real ear tests on dogs to determine the effectiveness of Rex Specs Ear Pro by Zeteo Tech. These tests were conducted at lower frequencies, as these are the most difficult to attenuate.

The real ear tests were conducted in a sound booth with the noise exposure set at 95dB (white noise). 95dB cause for example: tractors, mixers, motorcycles, power tools, helicopters.

See graph below for results. At very low frequencies (20Hz – 120Hz), Rex Specs Ear Pro by Zeteo Tech attenuates or reduces noise exposure between 18 dB A and 24 dB A. As frequency increases, so does the effectiveness of the product.

Official UK distributer of the Aqua Bandit

Many dogs love cooling off in the summer by swimming much like humans do, especially Labradors, Spaniels, Setters and other retrieving breeds. The problem is that dogs are susceptible to chronic ear infections. Ear infections can be a very painful side effect of all that water play time. The Aquabandit puts an end to this painful and sometimes expensive problem caused by water. It acts as a bathing cap, preventing water and debris from entering your dogs ear. It is comfortable, lightweight and very easy to use. The adjustable velcro closure ensures a proper fit. Aquabandit is available in the following sizes : Small, Medium, Large, XLarge and XXLarge. You can determine your dogs Aquabandit size by

More Information About Dog Earplugs, Calm by CrittEar (the first earplugs for dogs )

A dogs hearing can be affected by loud noises the same way that yours can. It is important to protect your dog from loud noises by using earplugs when your dog will be exposed to them. Jennifer Smith, a veterinarian in Minneapolis, reminds you that a dog has a higher range of hearing than people do, which means that they are able to hear sounds at a higher frequency. She suggests several ways to use earplugs for a dogs ears.

A dogs hearing can be affected by loud noises the same way that yours can. It is important to protect your dog from loud noises by using earplugs when your dog will be exposed to them. Jennifer Smith, a veterinarian in Minneapolis, reminds you that a dog has a higher range of hearing than people do, which means that they are able to hear sounds at a higher frequency. She suggests several ways to use earplugs for a dogs ears.

A dogs hearing can be affected by loud noises the same way that yours can. It is important to protect your dog from loud noises by using earplugs when your dog will be exposed to them. Jennifer Smith, a veterinarian in Minneapolis, reminds you that a dog has a higher range of hearing than people do, which means that they are able to hear sounds at a higher frequency. She suggests several ways to use earplugs for a dogs ears.

A dogs hearing can be affected by loud noises the same way that yours can. It is important to protect your dog from loud noises by using earplugs when your dog will be exposed to them. Jennifer Smith, a veterinarian in Minneapolis, reminds you that a dog has a higher range of hearing than people do, which means that they are able to hear sounds at a higher frequency. She suggests several ways to use earplugs for a dogs ears.

A dogs hearing can be affected by loud noises the same way that yours can. It is important to protect your dog from loud noises by using earplugs when your dog will be exposed to them. Jennifer Smith, a veterinarian in Minneapolis, reminds you that a dog has a higher range of hearing than people do, which means that they are able to hear sounds at a higher frequency. She suggests several ways to use earplugs for a dogs ears.

Use a part of earplugs or ear covers meant for a child or small adult. Dr. Smith says that you should only use out-of-ear plugs and never to use plugs that go in a dogs ear. She says that it is too easy to lose materials in a dogs ear, and too easy to damage their ear drums by sticking things in the ears.

A dogs hearing can be affected by loud noises the same way that yours can. It is important to protect your dog from loud noises by using earplugs when your dog will be exposed to them. Jennifer Smith, a veterinarian in Minneapolis, reminds you that a dog has a higher range of hearing than people do, which means that they are able to hear sounds at a higher frequency. She suggests several ways to use earplugs for a dogs ears.

Find an ear cover or headphone type apparatus that is meant for a child or baby. You can find these at baby supply stores or music supply stores. One meant for a baby should fit over your dogs ears, but they might need a little adjustment.

A dogs hearing can be affected by loud noises the same way that yours can. It is important to protect your dog from loud noises by using earplugs when your dog will be exposed to them. Jennifer Smith, a veterinarian in Minneapolis, reminds you that a dog has a higher range of hearing than people do, which means that they are able to hear sounds at a higher frequency. She suggests several ways to use earplugs for a dogs ears.

Have a friend hold your dog while you slip the pair of sound blockers over your dogs head. Fasten them over his ears and see if they fit tightly. If they are a good fit, says Dr. Smith, you will not be able to see into your dogs ears at all. Finding a good fit is the easy part, says the veterinarian, getting them to stay on is harder.

A dogs hearing can be affected by loud noises the same way that yours can. It is important to protect your dog from loud noises by using earplugs when your dog will be exposed to them. Jennifer Smith, a veterinarian in Minneapolis, reminds you that a dog has a higher range of hearing than people do, which means that they are able to hear sounds at a higher frequency. She suggests several ways to use earplugs for a dogs ears.

Secure the headphones or sound blockers over your dogs ears by making them as small as possible first. Then set them in place. Use a bandana to tie the headphones into place by tying around the headphones and making a tight knot.

A dogs hearing can be affected by loud noises the same way that yours can. It is important to protect your dog from loud noises by using earplugs when your dog will be exposed to them. Jennifer Smith, a veterinarian in Minneapolis, reminds you that a dog has a higher range of hearing than people do, which means that they are able to hear sounds at a higher frequency. She suggests several ways to use earplugs for a dogs ears.

Use headphones or sound blockers for your dogs ears if you are taking him to a concert, walking him near construction, or taking him to a place where there are loud noises. If you secure the headphones correctly, your dog will not be able to back out of them and they wont be able to fall off. Dr. Smith cautions that it might take a few tries before your dog will get used to having something on his head.

This article was written by the CareerTrend team, copy edited and fact checked through a multi-point auditing system, in efforts to ensure our readers only receive the best information. To submit your questions or ideas, or to simply learn more about CareerTrend, contact us [here](http://careertrend.com/about-us).