Some dogs are born with hearing difficulties, while others acquire hearing loss later on in life. It is important to address loss of hearing in dogs immediately because there are many potential underlying causes for the loss. If the cause is not something obvious, consult a veterinarian for assistance in arriving at a proper diagnosis so that you can administer the right treatment.
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Common Causes
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According to Debra Elderedge, there are several common causes for loss of hearing in dogs. Like people, dogs can experience degenerative hearing as they become older. This is one of the most common causes of permanent hearing loss in a dog. There are other causes for hearing loss as well, such as too much wax in the ears or an ear infection. Both of these can lead to hearing issues, but you can treat them in order to restore the dog's hearing.
Acquired Deafness
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Acquired deafness means that the dog was originally born with normal hearing, but that the dog has lost all or some hearing capability over time The most common cause of acquired deafness is age, and acquired deafness is common in all dog breeds. Acquired deafness is possible through damage to the components of the ear, disease, trauma or aging. Canine distemper is a particularly common cause for damage to the ear, for example. Some antibiotics and other medicines can also cause hearing loss, including aminoglycoside antibiotics, which are naturally toxic to the structure of the ear.
Ear Infection
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Another common cause for hearing loss is ear infection. Not only can the presence of an ear infection temporary alter the dog's ability to hear, but an untreated ear infection can cause permanent damage to the structure of the ear as well. Mild ear infections, if left without treatment, do have the potential for causing a serious permanent hearing impairment in a dog. Hearing is not typically lost completely, but damaged to the point where hearing quality is impacted.
Risks
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Not every dog with acquired deafness is going to experience the same level of hearing loss. Some dogs only experience a partial loss of hearing, to the point where the owner may not even notice. Other dogs may experience a severe loss of hearing, or a complete hearing loss. These dogs can be prone to accidents or injuries because they cannot hear dangers around them like oncoming cars, for example.
Treatment
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There is no available treatment for acquired hearing loss in dogs. Most dogs appear to be able to cope with hearing loss quite well, and can learn hand signals and other visual signs from their owners. Susan Cope Becker's "Deaf Dog" offers advice and information on teaching a dog how to deal with a hearing disability, and learning how to cope with it from the human side of things as well.
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