Have you ever had a deaf Chihuahua? Unlike humans, deafness is a little harder to deal with since dogs can’t talk. Fortunately dogs will pick up cues from us and can even learn a type of sign language.
Deafness is defined as partial or complete hearing loss. Levels of hearing impairment vary from a mild to a total loss of hearing. Dogs of any breed can be affected with hearing loss or deafness from a variety of causes, but breeds with white pigmentation are most often affected. The Chihuahua is among the list of dog breeds that present congenital (at birth) deafness (Strain, G.M.)
Causes
• Congenital Deafness. Some dog are born without the ability to hear in one or both ears. In these cases the disease is inherited and irreversible. Congenital deafness is most commonly identified in dog breeds with white pigmentation and blue eye color; however, albinism is not usually associated with deafness.
• Obstructive Deafness. In this cases, deafness or hearing loss results from obstruction of the sound transmission as a consequence of occlusion of the outer or middle ear. Otitis of the middle or external ear can cause an excessive build up of earwax that occludes the outer and/or middle ear.
• Age-related Hearing Loss. As dogs age it is common that they loose their hearing progressively and this is not related to trauma, genetics or other diseases. Even though this occurs progressively, most owners perceive the hearing loss as an acute event because most animals only show signs of deafness when they have completely loss their hearing ability.
• Toxicity. Certain drugs such as antibiotics, diuretics and chemotherapeutics can cause hearing loss. The hearing loss may be reversible if diagnosed early but will, in most cases, result in permanent hearing deficits. Some of the drugs that may cause hearing issues are: aminoglycoside antibiotics, tetracyclines, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cisplatin, vinblastine and vincristine, furosemide, benzalkonium chloride, digoxin, insulin, potassium bromide, prednisolone and salicylates.
• Other Causes. Exposure to intense sounds may cause temporary or permanent hearing loss. Other possible causes of deafness are: trauma, infection, anoxia and anesthesia.
Signs
• He or she is unresponsiveness to everyday sounds
• Your Chihuahua turns the wrong way when you call him or her
• Your Chi does not wake up when there is a loud noise
• Constantly shakes his or her head
• Your dog doesn’t respond or seems confused when given familiar vocal commands.
• Excessive barking
• Your dog has itchy, painful ears
• A smelly discharge comes from his or her ears (could be a sign of ear infection)
Treatment
If you identify any of the above signs you can test your dog’s hearing by stepping quietly behind him and clapping once loudly to check his/her response. Any deafness present in the dog at birth is irreversible and these dogs should not be bred but of course, they still can make great pets.
The treatment of temporary deafness depends on the cause. If hearing loss is caused by an inflammation of the ear it can be treated with antibiotics and analgesics. If your dog has wax build-up in his ears, he/she will need daily ear cleaning with a prescription wash.
Prevention
Dogs that are genetically predisposed to deafness should not be bred. Appropriate ear hygiene and care is essential to prevent hearing loss. Whenever your dog is groomed you should clean the external ear (only the visible part of the ear) using a small gauze or cotton ball and mineral oil in order to prevent excess earwax build up. Whenever you visit your veterinarian, make sure that they check your Chihuahuas’ ears.
How Can Pet Parents Help Their Dogs With Hearing Loss?
• Deaf dogs can be trained to understand hand signals.
• A flashlight or laser penlight can be used to get your dog’s attention.
• Let your dog know that you are entering or leaving a room by tapping him/her gently on the back or shoulder.
• Never let a hearing-impaired dog go unleashed outside the house because they won’t be able to hear traffic.
So, have you had to deal with deafness in your Chihuahua or any other dog you have had? How did you handle it? Leave a comment and let us know!
Sources:
ASPCA. Deafness. Retrieved from: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/deafness.
Strain, G.M. (2013). Deafness in Dogs and Cats. 2013 SAVMA Symposium, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, US.
Preventing health diseases of your pet is just as important as taking care of your own health. Thanks for the article, keep up the awesome blog!
I have a deaf chihuahua. She is all white. Pixie is the most loving dog. I wouldn’t give her up for anything. Her other senses are strong and compensate for the loss of hearing. She was deaf at birth. Love my chi!
She’s so cute Joyce! Thanks for sharing about her.
I have a 3 year old deaf Chihuahua called Così and she is the only one of my Chihuahuas that comes on command…always and instantly she sees my hand signal. The other two can hear but ignore my calls!!!
It’s true that having a deaf dog is a great responsibility but it is also very rewarding. I would happily have another deaf dog.
My 3yo chihuahua named Boss was born deaf, h has a gorgeous thick white coat with 3 big blue hairless spots. He is so loving, beautiful natures and most all he is happy 😌 Love my boy
He is beautiful Renee!
I have a new Chihuahua pup, Sasha, who is 4 mths old.
I have just realised that she doesn’t respond to sound. She doesn’t notice what’s happening around her unless she is actually watching you. I absolutely adore her and was heartbroken when I realised only today. I will have to be EXTRA careful with her surroundings.
I think I should get the vet to check this out but can they tell from looking at her ears?
There’s mention here of light coloured dogs, Sasha is apricot with dark eyes.
The vets have simple tests they do to see if a dog is deaf. Sometimes they can tell just by looking at the ears if there’s an obvious malformity but usually not.
Sasha is such an adorable little girl!
Thankyou for your reply. I’ll make an appointment with the Vet and see what thet find. I guess I should let the Breeder know too. Sasha is registered and I had been hoping to go to Shows with her but I suppose that is out of the question now, breeding with her in the future was something I might have considered but that is a definite “NO” now too.
Mostly I’m sad that she has a silent world but I’m already looking at ways to make it a normal, happy one for her.
She’s lucky she has you for her mama Katherine.
Thankyou ☺
My Sugar developed the age relate deafness. It did seem sudden, but according to the article, that was related to losing the last bit of hearing and my realizing them that she did not respond to sound. The vet said there was no treatment for her deafness. She responding to hand signals and touch, and I will always miss her although I do have another baby now and love her dearly.
That’s good that she responds to hand signals. I have gotten to where I start with had signals when they are young and the hearing is good so it will be so much easier as they age and lose their hearing.