Our eight-year-old old Cocker Spaniel, Hershey, appears to be going deaf and does not seem to hear the doorbell or our commands anymore. Our vet says it’s age-related and irreversible. Can you suggest any alternative solutions to help him?
Dogs and cats usually have extremely sharp hearing, so it can be quite a shock to owners when their pet stops responding to noise.
Hearing loss with advancing age is not uncommon in dogs and cats. Temporary loss of hearing is often a result of minor issues like earwax buildup, infections or even excess hair. Sudden hearing loss can be painful and needs to be investigated.
Signs of hearing loss include your pet not pricking up his ears when you open his food or treat bag, being startled when you approach him suddenly, not responding to the doorbell if he does normally, and not responding to his name when you are not in his visual field.
Deafness can be hereditary or congenital (present from birth) in both dogs and cats. Dogs with piebald or merle genes and cats with white coats have hereditary (inherited) deafness. White pigment-associated deafness is quite common and often associated with cats that also have blue eyes.
Congenital deafness is documented in over 100 dog breeds including the piebald gene-carrying breeds like Dalmatian, English Cocker Spaniel, Boston Terrier and Bull Terrier.
Conduction deafness, where the problem lies in the reduction of sound reaching the cochlea due to ear infections, a hairy ear canal or excessive wax production, is common and usually temporary. Ear drum-related deafness is uncommon but does happen due to trauma from cotton swabs or chronic infections.
Sensorineural deafness, which involves the loss of cochlear nerve cells, is an irreversible type of hearing loss commonly caused by drugs including aminoglycoside antibiotics like gentamicin, ironically often found in several preparations used to treat ear infections.
Chlorhexidine, a common antiseptic, is also ototoxic (damaging to the ears).
Other possible causes of hearing loss include noise trauma such as gunfire or loud fireworks, operations including dental or ear cleaning procedures, and cancer. But even simple aging can cause hearing loss.
Top tips
Dogs with congenital or hereditary deafness can be trained in sign language from when they are puppies. They are quick to learn and do really well when trained.
And remember that you need to take extra care of pets with hearing loss to ensure they don’t escape, as they are at higher risk of getting hit by a car.
Hearing loss is usually diagnosed by behavioral testing in clinics, commonly by observing the pet’s response to auditory stimuli when they cannot see the source of the sound. BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) testing is a more accurate approach that can be done at referral centers to confirm hearing loss.
Routine examination of the ears with an otoscope can help identify some causes of hearing loss like ear infections, hair or wax buildup and ruptured eardrums. X-rays may be necessary to check the ear structures or to detect cancers.
How to treat hearing loss will depend on the cause, but here are some natural remedies that can help with hearing loss caused by aging or infections and other fixable factors.
Diet
Feeding a good quality human-grade diet, raw or cooked, with plenty of nutrients can help slow hearing loss in elderly dogs.
Garlic oil
Ear mites, infections and allergies that cause conduction deafness can be easily treated with aged garlic oil. See the box on the right for a recipe.
Mullein
This herb (Verbascum thapsus) has expectorant properties and can help the body maintain good hearing by keeping the ears clean.
Suggested dosage: For small dogs (less than 20 lb/9 kg), give one-fourth the human dose daily for one month; for medium dogs (20–50 lb/9–23 kg), give half the human dose; and larger dogs can be given the full human dose
Spirulina
This blue-green algae is an excellent all-around supplement for dogs and cats. It’s a good source of essential fatty acids to help promote healthy skin and coats and is helpful for senior animals as it encourages appetite and strengthens and boosts the immune system. It’s also known to keep ears healthy. However, spirulina should be avoided in diabetic pets and those with Cushing’s disease as it affects blood sugar levels.
Suggested dosage: For small dogs (less than 20 lb/9 kg), give one-fourth the human dose daily for up to three months; for medium dogs (20–50 lb/9–23 kg), give half the human dose; and larger dogs can be given the full human dose
Acupressure
Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) practitioners have reported good success using acupuncture and acupressure to improve hearing. According to TCVM, hearing loss is primarily related to the kidneys. When the kidney is deficient in its ability to produce ‘yin’ essence or fluid, there is not enough substance to nourish the inner ear, resulting in hearing problems.
Acupressure is something you can give to your dog yourself (see my book You Can Heal Your Pet for a full guide). The following points can be gently massaged several times daily to help with hearing loss:
TH 17 (Triple heater), also called “Shielding Wind,” located just below the ears. Massaging this point in a circular motion three times a day can help improve hearing.
SI 19 (Small Intestine), also known as the “Palace of Hearing,” located just in front of the ear on either side. Press the point with your index finger for 30–60 seconds twice a day.
GB 2 (Gall Bladder), also known as “Confluence of Hearing,” located just in front of the ear. Press the point with your index finger for 30–60 seconds twice a day.
Traditional Chinese herbs
Traditional Chinese herbal formulas can also help. Ideally see a qualified practitioner, but the remedy Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, also known as Liuwei Dihuang teapills, is a classic kidney tonifying formula used to help slow or reverse hearing loss.
Suggested dosage: For small dogs, give 1–2 teapills twice daily; for medium dogs, give 3–4 pills twice daily; large dogs, give 6 pills twice daily
Homeopathy
Age-related deafness can be treated with the homeopathic remedies Argent Met, Causticum, Silicea and Theosinaminum.
Suggested dosage: Start with 30C and dose twice daily for 2–3 weeks. Try one remedy at a time, preferably under the guidance of a homeopath
Energy healing
A qualified Reiki practitioner or a trained animal healer can help with hearing loss by providing hands-on healing.
Garlic oil helps get rid of ear mites and wards off re-infestation and ear infections. It’s really easy to make.
Ingredients
1 large clove garlic, minced
Olive oil
Directions
NOTE: Make sure your vet has confirmed that your pet does not have a ruptured ear drum before you use this remedy.
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