Deafness in dogs is usually congenital and hereditary, linked to the white-coat genes piebald and merle, but it can also be acquired through ear disease, drugs, noise or age. The NAVLE focuses on the Dalmatian and other at-risk breeds, on the brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) as the only reliable way to detect deafness in one ear, and on separating conductive from sensorineural loss.
Key facts
Deafness at a glance- Species: dog (white, blue-eyed cats have a similar pigment-associated deafness).
- System: special senses, ear (cochlea and auditory pathway).
- Cause: most commonly congenital hereditary sensorineural deafness linked to piebald or merle; acquired causes include otitis, ototoxic drugs, noise, trauma and ageing.
- Classic presentation: a white or merle puppy that ignores sounds and follows its littermates; unilaterally deaf dogs often look normal.
- Diagnosis: BAER, testing each ear separately; at least 35 days old for OFA certification.
- Sensorineural deafness is permanent. Not zoonotic and not reportable.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention and control
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 5 tables, 2 figures, 3 self-test questions and 12 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.