Re: [pyrnet] Deaf Dog...

["Tracy" <espinay@bigpond.com>]

<<could only suggest that we take him to a specialist where they would have
to knock him out and hook him up to some machine via electrodes to test his
hearing.>>

The test your vet is referring to is the BAER test.  It will tell you
definitievely if your dog is either bilaterally or unilaterally deaf.

A simple method - often used when testing Dalmatian puppies (deafness is a
problem in that breed) before doing a BAER test or when one isnt available,
is to stand behind the dog while they are sleeping (ie out of their line of
sight and with an adult dog also make sure you are out of the 'line of
fire') and crash two saucepans together above them very loudly.  The sound
should invoke a startle reflex.  If they startle, they heard it <g>.  If no
startle, I would  probably investigate further, particularly if there is a
medical rather than a congenital reason for the deafness.  Is it possible
that the ear infections were/are 'deep' enough have damaged his hearing?

Tracy Bassett
Murrumbateman, Australia
espinay@bigpond.com