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Hi Reader,

our Maltese Absinth is almost 15 years old. He's an awesome pup with the soul of a 5-year-old dog. He used to be a real city boy - he even went to work with me every day ☺️

But lately, he enjoys living with my parents in the country. I know what some people think when I tell them he stays with my parents and not with us - how could I give away my precious furry baby?

Well, there's a bit more to the story. You see, my parents got a lovely puppy from a shelter, they named her Ellie. That was 6 years ago. And it was love at first sight for everyone - including our Absinth ❤️ By now they are inseparable. If I take him home for some reason, both dogs refuse to eat and are so sad it's heartbreaking.

And to be completely honest, we are a bit like an Italian family. My parents live 20 minutes from me and we visit at least once every 2 weeks. So you see, my furry senior gentleman is in good hands, happy and I get to see him whenever I want 🥰

He was always a good boy, well-trained and obedient. It kept him safe when he lived in the city. My parents are not strict about obeying commands. And Absinth soon realized that their commands were more or less 'suggestions' and not something he had to do right now.

So it took us a little while to realize that he was going deaf.

It took some time, but right now our pup is almost completely deaf. We had to make a few adjustments, but he's still thriving. To be honest, at 15 years old, it's a small miracle that his only health issue is loss of hearing ☺️

But how can you tell if your dog is going deaf or he's just ignoring you? 🐶

A dog with impaired hearing might be:

• Disobedient and ignore your verbal commands
• Unresponsive to everyday sounds (if your dog is suddenly ignoring the doorbell or vacuum cleaner, he might have a hearing problem)
• Unresponsive to his name (maybe he’s really not ignoring you)
• Easily startled
• Difficult to rouse from a deep sleep
• Less active or appear more cautious
• Barking excessively

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How to test dog hearing at home

The basics are simple – you want to see if your dog reacts to sounds, and you want to check if he reacts the same way to sounds coming from different directions.

Here’s what you can try at home:

• Observe your pup’s response to sounds: Clap your hands, whistle, or make other sharp sounds to see if your dog reacts by turning his head or showing signs of attentiveness. A lack of response will indicate that something is not right.
• Startle Response: Stand behind your dog and make a sudden noise, such as clapping your hands or shaking a can with coins. Observe the dog’s reaction. If the dog doesn’t respond to the noise by turning its head or showing signs of being startled, it might indicate that he has a hearing problem.
• Sound Localization: Make a noise on one side of the dog while it is facing away from you. Observe if the dog reacts and turns its head towards the sound. Repeat the test on the other side. If the dog consistently responds to sounds on one side but not the other, it suggests hearing loss in the ear that is not responding.
• Use a noisemaker: Shake a set of keys or a squeaky toy near the dog to see if he reacts to the sound. A normal-hearing dog will typically show interest and excitement.
• Test from different angles: Stand behind your dog and make a sound to see if he can locate the source of the noise. Dogs with normal hearing will typically turn their head in the direction of the sound.
• Call your dog’s name: Speak his name in a normal tone of voice from a reasonable distance. A dog with normal hearing will usually respond by looking at you or showing some recognition. And if he doesn’t react when you call his name, try to make the sound he’s associating with treats and food 😉

If you still have doubts, take your pup to a vet.

Senior dogs often suffer from hearing loss, so if you have a dog with impaired hearing, here are a few tips on how to make his life a bit more comfortable 👇

How to tell if your dog is going deaf How to care for a deaf dog ​ Read article

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If you want to keep track of your pup's tick treatments, deworming, and vaccinations, here's a printable Pet planner you can use ☺️

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Printable Pet Planner for Busy Dog Owners This easy-to-use printable pet planner helps dog owners keep track of their pup's health and appointments ​without getting overwhelmed VIEW IN SHOP

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So that's it from me for today.

Have a lovely day! 🤗

Monika

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