| What is the best deaf dog test? The only reliable | | | | unless another pup bumps into them and wakes |
| method for determining canine deafness is the BAER | | | | them up. If your dog is no longer a puppy there are |
| test (pronounced "bear") and it stands for "Brainstem | | | | other ways to find out if he/she can hear. Dogs hate |
| Auditory Evoked Response". | | | | the sound of coins shaken in a tin container. If the |
| It is a procedure developed to test hearing in infants, | | | | dog does not respond to the unpleasant sound by |
| which means that it does not measure the entire | | | | moving off, this is a signal that it may be deaf (you |
| range of canine hearing, but in most cases it is not | | | | can try this while the dogs is asleep, a hearing dog |
| necessary as the deaf dog will show to lack hearing | | | | immediately wakes up). |
| within the normal human range of sounds. | | | | Remember that is almost impossible to find out with |
| Some dogs that will test as deaf will be able to hear | | | | home methods if your dog is unilaterally deaf (deaf in |
| ultrasounds or very high pitches. The only way to | | | | one ear) as they will react to noises just like any |
| know this is to buy an ultrasound whistle or | | | | other dog. The slight difference is that your pet may |
| ultrasound device to make dogs stop barking. That is | | | | not know where the sound is coming from and may |
| how I found out that my Dalmatian was deaf to | | | | look around to find the source. |
| ultrasounds as well. | | | | Make sure that your pet is not already facing in the |
| The BAER test uses computers to record the | | | | direction of the noise when you test him/her so that |
| electrical activity of the brain in response to sound | | | | you can see if he/she has any problems identifying |
| stimulation. The test is not painful and sedation is | | | | where the noise is coming from. Remember that |
| usually not necessary, although dogs find it annoying | | | | your pet should get different reactions to sound |
| as they will have wires hanging from their face. The | | | | based on which side he/she is on, especially when |
| test can be performed on any dog over six weeks | | | | sleeping on one side if he/she is unilaterally deaf. |
| of age because puppies' ear canals do not open until | | | | Some deaf dogs can hear very low or high -pitched |
| they are about two weeks old. | | | | sounds. You can try this out with a whistle or an |
| A clicking sound is directed into the ear through a | | | | ultrasound device to make dogs stop barking. Other |
| foam insert, earphones, or headphones and the | | | | noises that you can use to attract your dog's |
| brain's response is recorded. Each ear is tested | | | | attention is the sound of dangling keys, the sound of |
| individually and the test generally lasts for only 10 to | | | | a bell or doorbell, a squeaky toy, banging two pots |
| 15 minutes. | | | | together or using a vacuum cleaner. |
| If you cannot afford or are unwilling to have your | | | | Make sure that you are far enough away from your |
| dog undergo this procedure, there are other ways to | | | | pet, because dogs do pick up the sound vibrations in |
| find out if your pet is deaf. Deaf puppies usually bite | | | | the air and may react as if they are not deaf. |
| harder when playing with their littermates because | | | | Remember the louder and higher the sound the |
| they cannot hear the other pup yelp, and it takes | | | | stronger the vibrations and your dog will pick up on |
| longer for them to husband their strength. | | | | those, making you think that he/she can hear. |
| Deaf pups also do not wake up at feeding time | | | | |