My senior dog seems deaf. Is it normal? When should I see a vet?

Hello, I am sorry to hear about Tullio. Although it is hard to know definitively what is going on, some pets can experience hearing and vision loss as they age. It is possible the Tullio is beginning to experience one or both of these effects. Another thing that happens as pets age is that they can become senile and have a harder time doing things that they have been accustomed to doing all their life. To have Tullio's vision and hearing further evaluated please have him seen by a veterinarian. Hope this helps, good luck!

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!

Hello. It is unfortunate that Maddie has lost her hearing. This is a problem with some dogs using ear medications. Yes, you should have your vet take a look just to make sure everything is OK. Usually, with time, the hearing does return. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It sounds like he is experiencing typical geriatric changes. There is not much we can do to restore hearing if caused by aging. The energy definitely slows down as they age. A daily canine multi vitamin may help. If you haven't been getting his blood checked once a year I would consider this and go see your vet to have this done as there certainly are diseases that can cause shadow to feel lethargic and sleepy. In regards to going up stairs, it sounds like arthritis may be slowing him down a bit. I would consult your vet about pain medications that you can give shadow to help with arthritis. Dasuquin for dogs is a great product along with omega 3 fish oils to aid in reducing inflammation. Welactin is a great fish oil product you can get over the counter. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please contact me with any additional concerns you may have!

At 13, it is likely that Meika is starting to lose some of her hearing which might be playing a role in what you are describing. I would recommend repeating some obedience training with her like you did when she was younger using treats for reward to get her excited about doing training again. I would also start training her with hand signals if you didn't previously do that to help her if she is starting to lose her hearing. Finally, I would recommend having your veterinarian examine her to make sure she doesn't have arthritis which is contributing to her not wanting to walk as much or follow commands. If she has arthritis, it might be uncomfortable for her to do some commands. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. It sounds like she may have had a mild episode of a condition called Vestibular Syndrome, an imbalance in the inner ear(s). If it has been a while since she saw a vet, it would not be a good idea to have her checked out. At this age, 2chainz is considered a senior citizen & things can begin to change. A good wellness exam & geriatric bloodwork is highly recommended to make sure she is as healthy as possible going into her "golden" years. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If this is related to an ear infection, then yes, treatments can help. If this is related to Mitchell's age, then unfortunately, there is not treatment available. If you are unsure if there is an infection, I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.