Can a loud smoke alarm damage my cat's hearing? Is she deaf?

The best way to check for deafness is to snap your fingers behind Alice's head. You must make sure she does not know you are approaching her, that you do not touch any of her hair and that a breeze is not created that may move her fur. If she doesn't react, then you know that she is deaf. If that area on her cornea is new or if the eye shows any inflammation or squinting, you should have it checked out by her veterinarian. Cats can get scars, cornea dysplasia and a few other conditions that may fit your description. When in doubt, have it checked out. A Feliway diffuser or Royal Canin Calm diet food may help Alice to have less anxiety in general and you may consider trying them. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Yes absolutely, there is a hearing test called the BAER hearing test for pets. Typically it is offered at some veterinary colleges and also some internal specialists. I would check with your regular vet to see if they have some referrals for Peanut in the area. Other than that you can try snapping your fingers on either side of her head to see if she responds. I hope that Peanuts hearing is intact and well. Best wishes and take care.

The best way to "test" hearing at home is to wait until the dog is sleeping or not looking at you and then making a loud noise to see if she responds. This is not really diagnostic though. Some animals are deaf at only certain pitches of sound and not all sounds. The only way to definitively test is to take her for Baer testing at a speciality vet clinic. This article may help you: https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-Your-Dog-Is-Deaf

Wally most likely was just scared of the loud sound. If he is acting normal now, then it is unlikely there is physical damage. The link below has information on fear related to fireworks, but a lot of the tips are applicable to other loud noises (like fire alarms) as well https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952947

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like you’ve done all the usual tests so yes, I wouldn’t be surprised if she were deaf. I will say though that testing during puppyhood is difficult because puppies haven’t learned how to react to things yet. I’d say there is a slim chance she can hear. But for her, I’d recommend hand signals along with your verbal commands when training her. Best wishes to you and your adorable new family member Harley!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Bandit. It could be sitting next to your husband while he was shooting has affected his hearing. I would monitor him tonight, and if he's still this way in the morning, have him seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

A head tilt in a kitten often indicates a severe ear infection that affects the middle and inner ear. This could definitely cause her to go deaf in that one ear, but she wouldn't be expected to be completely deaf. However, it is suspicious that she didn't react to the vacuum. It is possible that she has a hereditary defect (more common in white cats) that is causing her to be deaf. In either case, it's best to have her evaluated by a veterinarian. They can help narrow-down the cause of this and ensure she gets the necessary treatment. I hope that helps and all is well with Kee Kee D.