Dogs lose their hearing just like people. There are a number of reasons why a dog can lose its hearing. Depending on the cause, canine hearing loss occurs gradually or suddenly. Although dogs experience varying degrees of hearing impairment, its effects are most often permanent.
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Age-Related Hearing Loss
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Dogs lose their hearing as they age. Although it starts off gradually, dog owners don't generally notice the dog's hearing loss until it becomes worse. Signs of canine hearing loss include: ignores voice commands, acts surprised when touched from the back or side and reacts with aggression when startled as an instinctive defense mechanism. Unfortunately, there's no cure for age-related hearing loss. Dog owners can mitigate the effects by teaching the dog to respond to hand and light signals instead of voice commands. In addition, clapping of the hands or stomping of the feet may also be useful voice command alternatives, as dogs with hearing loss still feel vibrations.
Ear Trauma
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Virtually, any sort of trauma to the dog's ear or head can result in hearing impairment. Any time parts of the ear, such as the eardrum, middle and inner ear structures and nerves become damaged, canine hearing loss is possible. For example, deafness may occur when a dog is hit by a car or involved in another accident, has a brain tumor, contracts a disease or develops an ear infection.
Ear Infections
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Chronic and persistent ear infections in dogs, when untreated, may cause hearing loss. According to Race Foster, DVM and contributing writer of Peteducation.com, in his experience mild external and internal ear infections, also known as otitis externa and otitis interna, are the most common cause for acquired deafness in his patients. In the majority of these cases, the ear canal becomes blocked by scar tissue impacting the dog's ability to hear.
Prescription Drug-Related Loss
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Certain prescription drugs may cause deafness in dogs by damaging the ear structure. Aminoglycoside antibiotics, in particular, can be harmful in high doses and when treatments are administered over a long period of time. Aminoglycoside antibiotics include: Gentamicin, Neomycin and Kanamycin. A dog on these drugs should be under the care of a veterinarian.
Other Causes
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Deafness in dogs can also be caused by viral infections, such as Distemper as well as diseases like Cushing's disease common in older dogs. In addition, a stroke can cause canine hearing loss.
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