Hearing Loss in Dogs

[Maggie's Mom]

Our little toy fox, Maggie, has gone deaf seems as though just in the last couple of months. She is 12-1/2 yrs old. She is healthy, eats good, but sleeps a lot. The vet said this was normal of a girl her age. Feel so helpless when I talk to her she looks me directly in the eyes trying to figure out what I am telling her. Any suggestions from any friends out there that have experienced the same. Thanks!!

[Corinna]

my 16 year old cocker went deaf and blind that way, we used vibrations on the floor to get her to be able to know where we were. I raised a blind springer and trained her for tracking used all voice commands for her. You just have to treat them more like a small child watching them like a hawk.

[3-greys-and-a-mutt]

My cocker lived to be 14 1/2, and was deaf for about the last three years of her life. The strange thing is that she didn't seem to care at all! It bothered us more than it bothered her! The first thing to keep in mind is to never, ever, let that dog off leash is a non-enclosed area! No matter how well-trained a deaf dog may be, it can't hear your commands anymore. Many dogs learn hand signal commands (we had a motion for our cocker to sit), but the dog can only respond to the command if it is watching you intently! We used to compensate for our dog's deafness by making sure to touch her alot - filling in for one sensory loss with another sense. I used to sit very close to her head when I'd talk with her, so that she could still pick up some vibrations. Don't stop talking to your deaf dog - they enjoy the attention, and I think they can pick up on many of the tones and vibrations! :)

[Maggie's Mom]

Originally posted by 3-greys-and-a-mutt:
<STRONG>My cocker lived to be 14 1/2, and was deaf for about the last three years of her life. The strange thing is that she didn't seem to care at all! It bothered us more than it bothered her! The first thing to keep in mind is to never, ever, let that dog off leash is a non-enclosed area! No matter how well-trained a deaf dog may be, it can't hear your commands anymore. Many dogs learn hand signal commands (we had a motion for our cocker to sit), but the dog can only respond to the command if it is watching you intently! We used to compensate for our dog's deafness by making sure to touch her alot - filling in for one sensory loss with another sense. I used to sit very close to her head when I'd talk with her, so that she could still pick up some vibrations. Don't stop talking to your deaf dog - they enjoy the attention, and I think they can pick up on many of the tones and vibrations! :)</STRONG>
Thanks for your note with its good advice. I think she is a little confused as to why we talk and that she doesn't hear us. Maggie certainly has always enjoyed all the attention...likes to be held, hugged, kisses and other good stuff like that. Will keep ya'll informed.

[KYS]

Maggie's Mom:
My parents had a GSD.
She went deaf and 75%
blind by the time she was 10 yrs. old.
(she lived a happy life till she passed
away at 12)
As long as she could eat, get attention and could walk, she was a happy
camper.
I am sure when your baby looks at you and
feels your touch she knows that you are
telling her that you love her.