Deafness
Dogs suffering from deafness can either be completely deaf in both ears (bilateral deafness) or completely deaf in one ear and able to hear normally in the other (unilateral deafness).
It is difficult to identify deafness in young puppies as they tend to react to vibrations or follow their litter mates.
A BAER (Brain stem Auditory Evoked Response) test, carried out by a specialist, is the only way to know for certain.
The best age to test a litter is around 5½ to 6½ weeks of age (ear canals don’t open until puppies are about 2 weeks old). The test can be carried out at any age after this, including on adult dogs.
Many breeders wish to know the hearing status of their pups before they go to their new homes. Also, at this age, puppies have an active period followed by a period of sleep, which is the perfect time to carry out the test.
Small probes are placed under the skin on the puppy/dog’s head with a ‘headphone’ over the ear which emits a clicking noise. This is connected to a computer which records the brain’s response. This is a non-invasive test and does not cause any pain or harm to the puppy/ dog.
On some occasions adult dogs will need to be sedated in order to keep them still during the test.
A BAER test is only required once in the dog’s lifetime.
A copy of the report from the specialist should be kept for your records.
Baer testing centres in the UK are listed below ( for further information see the KC website).
Hearing Assessment Clinic (Mobile)
Seadown Veterinary Hospital
1 Frost Lane,
Hythe,
Hants
Contact: K Morris MRCVS, 02380 842237
Small Animal Hospital
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Glasgow,
Bearsden Road,
Glasgow,
G61 1QH
Contact: Mrs Gillian Calvo (VN), 0141 330 5848
Wey Referrals
125-129 Chertsey Road,
Woking,
Surrey,
GU21 5BP
Contact: Ms Sue Fitzmaurice, 01483 729194,
Chapel House Veterinary Practice
Hady Hill,
Chesterfield,
S41 0DZ
Contact: Dr Dinu Catilina, 07403451743,
Slane Veterinary Clinic
3 Churchlands,
County Meath,
Ireland
Contact: Dr I Finney DVM MRCVS
Pride Veterinary Centre
Riverside Road,
Derby,
DE24 8HX
Contact: 01332 678333
Hearing Clinic at Davies Veterinary Specialists
Manor Farm Business Park,
Higham Gobion,
Hitchin
SG5 3HR
Contact: Julia Freeman, 01582 883950
The following veterinary practices can accommodate BAER testing and are all carried out by Mr David Godfrey. Appointments must be made directly with him by calling 07929 863 542 or
St George’s Veterinary Group
8 St George’s Parade,
Wolverhampton,
WV2 1BD
Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital
Banbury Road
Chipping Norton
OX7 5SY
West Bar Vet Hospital
19 West Bar,
Banbury
OX16 9SA
Haygate Vets
Unit 1,
Poyner Court,
Lawley Square,
Telford
TF3 5FB
Milton Keynes Veterinary Group
Walnut Tree Hospital,
Local Centre,
Fyfield Barrow,
Walnut Tree,
Milton Keynes
MK7 7AN
Severn Vets
Tybridge House,
Tybridge Street,
St John’s,
Worcester,
WR2 5BA
Stow Vets
Maugersbury Road,
Stow-on-the-Wold,
GL54 1HH
608 Vets
608 Warwick Road,
Solihull
B91 1AA
Woodlands Veterinary Clinic
Katherine Court,
Salisbury Ave,
Warden Hill,
Cheltenham,
GL51 3GA