Dog Hearing Loss Symptoms: How to Tell If Your Dog Is Losing Their Hearing

Noticing that your dog seems less responsive than usual can be unsettling, especially when you’re not sure what’s causing the change. If your once-attentive pup has started ignoring your calls or sleeping through sounds that would normally send them running to the door, hearing loss could be to blame. Understanding the signs early can make a real difference in your dog’s quality of life and long-term health.

Common Causes

Hearing loss in dogs can develop gradually or appear quite suddenly, and the underlying cause often shapes how it’s treated. Some cases are temporary and easily resolved, while others are permanent conditions that require long-term management. Knowing what’s behind the problem is the first step toward helping your dog.

Some of the most common causes of hearing loss in dogs include:

• Age-related degeneration: Just like people, dogs can experience gradual hearing decline as they grow older. This is one of the most common forms of hearing loss, particularly in senior dogs over the age of eight.
• Chronic ear infections: Repeated or untreated ear infections can cause lasting damage to the structures inside the ear, including the eardrum and inner ear tissues.
• Wax or debris buildup: Excessive earwax, debris, or foreign objects lodged in the ear canal can physically block sound and lead to temporary hearing impairment.
• Congenital hearing loss: Some dogs are born with hearing deficits, which is particularly common in certain breeds such as Dalmatians, Australian Shepherds, and Bull Terriers due to genetic factors linked to coat pigmentation.
• Noise-induced or trauma-related damage: Prolonged exposure to loud noise or a traumatic injury to the head or ear can damage the delicate sensory cells responsible for detecting sound.

Age-related hearing loss, known clinically as presbycusis, tends to progress slowly over months or years. It results from the gradual degeneration of the cochlear hair cells — the tiny sensory structures inside the inner ear that convert sound vibrations into nerve signals. Because the decline is so incremental, many owners initially attribute the changes to their dog “slowing down” with age rather than recognizing it as a sensory deficit. Vets typically diagnose age-related hearing loss through a combination of physical examination, ruling out other causes, and BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) testing to objectively confirm the degree of loss.

Ear infections are another major culprit, and they’re more insidious than many owners realize. A single acute infection that’s caught and treated promptly rarely causes lasting damage. The real risk comes from chronic or recurrent infections — particularly those involving the middle or inner ear — where ongoing inflammation and bacterial activity can permanently scar ear canal tissues and compromise the eardrum. Dogs with allergies are especially prone to recurring ear infections, since allergic inflammation creates the warm, moist environment that bacteria and yeast thrive in. If your dog’s ears seem to flare up seasonally, allergies may be fueling the cycle.

Certain medications, including some antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs, can also be ototoxic — meaning they have the potential to harm hearing over time. Aminoglycoside antibiotics such as gentamicin and neomycin are among the most commonly implicated, particularly when used in high doses or over extended periods. If your dog is on long-term medication, it’s absolutely worth discussing this risk with your veterinarian so you can monitor for early warning signs together.

Symptoms to Watch For

Because dogs can’t tell us when something feels off, behavioral changes are often the first clue that their hearing isn’t what it used to be. The tricky part is that many of these signs can be subtle at first, and it’s easy to mistake them for stubbornness or aging in general. Paying close attention to patterns in your dog’s behavior is key.

Here are the most telling symptoms of hearing loss in dogs:

• Not responding to their name or familiar commands, especially when they can’t see you
• Failing to react to everyday sounds such as doorbells, knocking, or the rustling of their food bag
• Sleeping more deeply than usual and being difficult to wake up without a physical touch
• Appearing startled or frightened when approached from behind, since they can no longer hear you coming
• Excessive barking that seems out of context, which can occur because your dog can no longer hear their own vocalizations properly
• Tilting the head or shaking it frequently, particularly if an infection or physical blockage is contributing to the hearing change
• Disorientation or confusion, especially in unfamiliar environments where your dog relies heavily on auditory cues

It’s worth noting that dogs with hearing loss in only one ear may show fewer obvious signs, since the functioning ear compensates quite well. Bilateral hearing loss — affecting both ears — tends to produce more noticeable behavioral changes.

Symptom Severity at a Glance

Symptom	Risk Level	Action Required
Occasional failure to respond to name	Mild	Monitor behavior over 48–72 hours
Sleeping deeply, hard to wake without touch	Mild	Note frequency and mention at next vet visit
Startling easily when approached from behind	Moderate	Schedule a vet appointment within a few days
Head shaking or tilting alongside hearing changes	Moderate	Call your vet within 24 hours
Visible ear discharge, odor, or redness	Moderate	Call your vet within 24 hours
Sudden, rapid onset of hearing loss	Serious	Seek veterinary care the same day
Disorientation, loss of balance, or neurological signs	Serious	Seek emergency veterinary care immediately

Breeds Most at Risk

While any dog can develop hearing loss, certain breeds carry a significantly higher genetic predisposition and deserve extra monitoring from an early age.

Dalmatians are the most well-documented example. An estimated 15–30% of Dalmatians are born with some degree of hearing impairment, and around 8% are completely deaf in both ears. This is directly linked to the piebald gene responsible for their distinctive white coat and spotted pattern — the same gene that affects pigment-producing cells in the inner ear called stria vascularis cells, which are essential for normal cochlear function. Responsible breeders now use BAER testing on puppies before placement.

Australian Shepherds face a similar risk tied to the merle gene, which affects coat coloration and pigmentation throughout the body, including the inner ear. Double merle dogs — those inheriting two copies of the merle gene — are at particularly high risk for both deafness and vision impairment. This is why breeding two merle dogs together is considered ethically problematic within the veterinary and breeding communities.

Cocker Spaniels are predisposed to hearing loss for a different reason entirely: anatomy. Their long, floppy ears restrict airflow into the ear canal, creating conditions that favor chronic ear infections. Over time, repeated infections can cause the kind of structural damage to the ear canal and middle ear that leads to permanent hearing impairment. Regular ear cleaning and early infection management are especially important in this breed.

What You Can Do at Home

If you suspect your dog is experiencing hearing loss, there are several ways you can support them while you arrange a veterinary visit. While home care isn’t a substitute for professional diagnosis, these steps can help keep your dog safe and comfortable in the meantime.

First, pay attention to how your dog responds to different types of sounds and distances. Try gently clapping your hands or making a noise behind them while they’re resting and not looking at you. A dog with significant hearing loss won’t react, while a dog that’s simply being selective will often twitch an ear or turn around.

Next, check your dog’s ears for any visible signs of infection or buildup — redness, unusual odor, discharge, or excessive scratching. If you notice any of these, avoid using at-home ear cleaning products until a vet has assessed the situation, as some conditions can be worsened by improper cleaning.

Adapting your communication style can also go a long way. Many dogs with hearing loss respond beautifully to hand signals and visual cues, which you can begin introducing gradually alongside their usual verbal commands. Using a flashlight to get their attention or stomping gently on the floor to create vibrations are both practical techniques that hearing-impaired dogs learn to recognize quickly.

Finally, be mindful of safety. Dogs that can’t hear well are at greater risk outdoors, since they may not pick up on warning sounds like approaching vehicles. Keeping your dog on a leash or within a securely fenced area is especially important during this time.

When to See a Vet

Any noticeable or sudden change in your dog’s hearing warrants a visit to your veterinarian. Sudden hearing loss in particular should be treated as urgent, as it can sometimes indicate a serious underlying condition such as a severe infection, neurological issue, or toxic reaction that needs prompt attention.

You should also schedule an appointment if your dog is showing signs of ear discomfort alongside the hearing changes — including pawing at their ears, head shaking, or sensitivity around the face and jaw. These symptoms often point to an active infection or inflammation that will worsen without treatment.

Even if you suspect the hearing loss is age-related and gradual, a professional evaluation is still valuable. Your vet can perform a physical examination and, in some cases, refer your dog to a veterinary neurologist or audiologist for BAER testing, which objectively measures hearing function at the level of the brainstem. The test is painless, requires no response from your dog, and can clearly distinguish between partial and complete hearing loss in each ear individually — giving you and your vet a precise picture to work from.

How Pet Insurance Can Help

Diagnosing and managing hearing loss — especially when it involves specialist referrals, imaging, or ongoing treatment for underlying conditions — can add up quickly. Having a solid pet insurance plan in place means you can focus on your dog’s care without the added stress of unexpected costs. Enrolling your dog before health issues arise ensures you’re covered when it matters most.

Protective Care: Get a free pet insurance quote and protect your dog today

For times when you need immediate guidance from a licensed veterinarian without leaving home, telehealth services can be a lifesaver.

For more clinical details on canine health, you can refer to the professional guidelines from the Merck Veterinary Manual.

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Hearing loss can feel like a difficult diagnosis, but many dogs adapt remarkably well with the right support and a little patience from their people. With early intervention, thoughtful adjustments at home, and consistent veterinary care, your dog can continue to live a happy, fulfilling life. You know your dog better than anyone — and the fact that you’re paying close attention is already the most important thing you can do for them.