Deafness in our furry best friends is often misunderstood because it doesn’t have a serious effect on mobility, like blindness. Deaf pets are just as lively and loving as those that hear – they just need some patience and understanding. To help spread awareness about our deaf pets, Petfinder declared the last full week of September – which this year is the 22nd through the 28th – as Deaf Pet Awareness Week.
How Common is Deafness in Dogs and Cats?
As Dogster reports, there are thousands of fully deaf dogs in the US, with current estimates hovering around 35,000. Deafness in one ear is far more common, with an estimated 120,000 dogs in the US suffering deafness in one ear.
It’s estimated that about one percent of the cat population in the United States is deaf. That doesn’t sound like a big number, until you discover that there are more than 58 million pet cats in America, which equals 58,000 cats with some form of deafness.
What Causes Deafness in Dogs and Cats?
Dog deafness is usually hereditary, but some external factors can cause or exacerbate it. More than 30 dog breeds are genetically susceptible to deafness. A few examples are the Australian Shepherd, Boston Terrier, Dalmatian, and German Shepherd.
Oddly, the biggest link to deafness is coat color. Specifically, dogs with merle and piebald coats are at higher risk of developing hereditary deafness. The link goes further, though, and nearly any dog with white fur has a higher-than-average risk of going deaf.
Similarly, deafness in cats is often linked to their eye and coat color:
- White cats with blue eyes: About 1–1.5% of the total cat population are white cats with blue eyes that are deaf. White cats with blue eyes are 3–5 times more likely to be deaf than cats with other eye colors.
- White cats with non-blue eyes: 17–22% of white cats with non-blue eyes are born deaf.
- White cats with one blue eye: 40% of white cats with one blue eye are deaf.
- Solid white cats: 10–20% of non-blue-eyed solid white cats are born deaf or become deaf as they age.
Other causes of deafness are external (your dog/cat is not born with the problem). The main one is inflammation and/or infection of the ear (otitis), which can cause temporary deafness, or if left untreated, can lead to permanent deafness. Dog breeds with narrow ear canals, floppy ears, or that are prone to skin conditions like allergies are especially prone to this and require regular vet checkups.
Other reasons why your dog/cat could go completely or partially deaf include tumors, trauma, the use of ototoxic drugs (medications that can harm the internal structures of the ear), or simply old age.
How to Know if Your Pet is Deaf
You may suspect that your pet can’t hear you too well if they seem to ignore certain appealing sounds. For example, grabbing your house keys, opening the fridge, or calling them for a treat should have your pet at your side in seconds.
Generally, it is harder to tell that a cat is deaf than it is to tell that a dog is deaf, particularly if there is a hearing cat in the household. A deaf cat will tend to look to the hearing cat for visual clues about what is going on. The deaf cat will play with its hearing companion, chasing through the house just like a normal cat.
It may be easier to notice deafness when only one cat is in the home. The cat may sleep very soundly. You may also notice that she startles more easily. Or she may not notice when you enter the room. To determine if your cat is deaf, clap your hands or rattle your keys when she is facing away from you. If there is no reaction, then there is a good chance that your cat is deaf.
If that is the case, you should talk to your vet because the only way hearing loss can be confirmed is with the BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) test. This test detects electrical activity in the inner ear (cochlea) and hearing nerves (auditory pathways) in the brain and will provide an answer to whether your pet can or cannot hear in one or both ears.
However, the test cannot characterize the amount that they hear or the cause of the deafness. Most practices do not have the equipment, but your vet will tell you where to go if you wish to have your pet tested.
How to Train and Communicate with a Deaf Pet
Raising a deaf dog presents some unique challenges, but they’re hardly insurmountable. You’ll just have to change the way you communicate and train your dog! With enough patience, any deaf dog can have a full, normal life. Let’s take a look at some ways you can adapt to a dog’s deafness, whether it’s a young pup or an older dog that went deaf with age.
Tips for Training & Communicating with Deaf Dogs:
- Learn sign language. Sign Language is great for deaf dogs, and you can simply substitute verbal commands with signs, followed by lots of praise and treats!
- Take precautions. Deaf dogs are more at risk on their own because they can’t hear potential threats like cars and animal noises, which requires a vigilant eye.
- Use sight and smell. Forget about squeaky toys! Deaf dogs thrive with plenty of visual stimulation and love smells like any other pup.
- Keep your vet on speed dial. Deafness isn’t life-threatening on its own, but you should always consult a trusted vet if you have any problems, concerns, or questions.
There is no treatment for hereditary deafness in cats, but most cats adapt well to their condition. Deaf cats are very visually aware of their surroundings, so you can communicate with them using body language.
Tips for Training & Communicating with Deaf Cats:
- When she looks at you, crouch down toward the floor, extend your hand, and call her to you. Reinforce her instinct to approach you by using a small, tasty treat.
- If she is doing something she is not supposed to, just as jumping on a counter or scratching furniture, you can communicate displeasure by standing tall, waving your arms above your head, and stomping your feet as you approach.
- Create a scheduled routine and stick to it, to quickly teach deaf cats important household routines, such as when meals happen and the feeding and litter box locations.
Visual cues can be used to get their attention:
- Flash the overhead lights when you enter the room to prompt them to look around and see you.
- Use a laser pointer to get their attention if they are facing away from you. Focus the laser pointer on the floor, just ahead of your cat, and then lure him to turn around and notice you.
Touch and vibration are also important to deaf cats.
- A firm stomp on the floor uses vibration to communicate your presence and causes your cat to look around for the source. You can then call your cat to you or head toward the food dish.
- Stroking, brushing, and combing may be quite comforting to a deaf cat.
- Purring is a tactile experience – it causes a vibration. Try purring when you cuddle your deaf cat and see if she responds to your purr.
Of course, play is also a great way to communicate with your deaf cat. Use toys and feathers attached to strings or short poles for great hunting and chasing games.
Deaf pets are more than capable of giving love and companionship, and deserve as much love (and patience) as you can give in return.
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Photo Credit: Esin Deniz / Shutterstock.com