Anguille
Bane of the Urbane
- Mar 8, 2008
- 17,910
- 2,266
- 48
My 15 year old pup is in great shape, loves to run and play. but I have one problem, here hearing is getting worse and worse. It think it started about a year and a half ago. We started noticing she didn't hear cars coming anymore when crossing the street and began getting the shakes during thunderstorms. Then she was infected with ear mites from a stray kitten I found which led to much scratching and a diagnosis by the vet of ear mites, yeast infection and bacterial infection. A year later her hearing has not improved.
The problem is that she is a very well trained dog but she obeys vocal commands which she can't hear half the time now. I have started using hand signals but they aren't useful when he back is turned to me and I want to go down one path and she is headed down another. I find I have to use the leash more no just as a means of keeping in communication with her.
Before I spend more money at an ear specialist, does anyone have advice? Or has anyone experienced the same problem with their older dog ? Is deafness irreversible in dogs? My regular vet only seems to know so much. He can't even determine if the deafness was caused by the mites or a preexisting infection.
Any thoughts will be appreciated.
TNX!
The problem is that she is a very well trained dog but she obeys vocal commands which she can't hear half the time now. I have started using hand signals but they aren't useful when he back is turned to me and I want to go down one path and she is headed down another. I find I have to use the leash more no just as a means of keeping in communication with her.
Before I spend more money at an ear specialist, does anyone have advice? Or has anyone experienced the same problem with their older dog ? Is deafness irreversible in dogs? My regular vet only seems to know so much. He can't even determine if the deafness was caused by the mites or a preexisting infection.
Any thoughts will be appreciated.
TNX!