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Many senior dogs suffer from hearing impairment as they age and become less responsive to you and the world around them. Your ability to communicate with your dog becomes hampered when he can’t hear what you have to say, which can be frustrating for you and stressful for your dog. But there are steps you can take to help your senior dog cope with hearing loss.
Find food that fits your pet’s needs
When you first adopted your pet, you knew youd do anything to protect him and take care of him. Through the years, youve brought him to the veterinarian for annual checkups, the dog park for socialization and even vacations. Hes been a healthy pal for years, and you never imagined a day would come when the vet would have to tell you about hearing loss in dogs. But, here you are. Its time to relearn how to communicate with and keep your deaf dog safe.
Deafness in dogs can happen at any time, but it is most apparent when your dog stops reacting to common events: the doorbell ringing, the sound of you pouring his food for breakfast or calling his name to come. While deafness can be a hard thing to think about in your dog, it doesnt mean he cant still live a high-quality life and do all of the things that other dogs do, or even the things he used to do. It just means a change in approach to how you care for him, now cognizant of his hearing disability.
Tumors of the Ear
Vets may opt to perform surgery on tumors inside the ear to allow for better sound conduction.
Worried about the cost of Hearing Loss treatment?
Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
Deafness in Dogs
Aging can bring many changes to the life of a senior dog—and one of those changes is a decline in or loss of hearing. Deafness in senior dogs is often irreversible, unless caused by something like excessive buildup of waxy substances or ear infections that can be treated, according to Dr. Simon T. Kornberg, a board-certified veterinary neurologist who routinely diagnoses deaf dogs using electrodiagnostics (BAER) technology.
While seeing your dog lose his hearing can be difficult and sad for many pet parents, there are ways to deal with it so your dogs quality of life doesnt suffer. Keep in mind that dogs can adapt to hearing loss better than humans. It often comes on gradually, so they have time to adapt their other senses to compensate.