Deafness in dogs can be congenital, acquired or inherited.
Congenital deafness affects at least eighty breeds at this time.
Deafness can be color related in some, but not all breeds. Collies are affected when two merle
colored dogs are bred together, and puppies are born with defects of the ear canal(s) and
possibly eye(s). This is why very few merle to merle breedings are done. You will rarely see a
double merle (double dilute) available for sale, and you may want to avoid purchasing one of
these, without an extensive exam by your veterinarian. Not every double merle has health
issues, but make sure before you adopt.
This type of deafness can develop in Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, American Foxhounds, Old
English Sheepdogs, Harlequin Great Danes and Dappled Dachshunds. Another color gene is
the Piebald Color Pattern found in Beagles, Bull Terriers, Greyhounds, Great Pyrenees,
Dalmatians, English Setters and Samoyeds.
The deafness occurs during the very first few weeks of life while the puppies' ears are still
closed, when the blood supply to parts of the inner ear degenerates. The reason this happens
is not known, but may be associated with lack of pigmentation in the blood vessels. Some
breeds become deaf, but it is not related to coat color - such as Dobermans which do not have
merle or piebald genes.
Dogs may also become deaf from exposure to toxins such as poisons, infections, or injuries and
old age. Deafness in dogs is not common. It is not know for sure how deafness is inherited, in
most cases. Deafness may be the result of more than one 'deafness gene', too - therefore a
dog could carry a gene for two different types of deafness and not actually be affected itself,
but could pass both genes along to its offspring. The deafness may affect only one ear
(unilateral) or affect both ears (bilateral).
Breeding from deaf dogs, when the reason for the deafness is unknown is not recommended.
Breeders of Collies are aware that the deafness found in Collies is directly linked to the merle
gene, and that such a breeding will produce hearing and sight impaired dogs. A merle colored
dog, either a sable merle or a blue merle are not defective themselves and have normal hearing
and sight. It is just the combination of two merled parents that produce about 25% defective
puppies in a litter, with the rest of the litter having normal hearing and sight.
Congenital deafness affects at least eighty breeds at this time.
Deafness can be color related in some, but not all breeds. Collies are affected when two merle
colored dogs are bred together, and puppies are born with defects of the ear canal(s) and
possibly eye(s). This is why very few merle to merle breedings are done. You will rarely see a
double merle (double dilute) available for sale, and you may want to avoid purchasing one of
these, without an extensive exam by your veterinarian. Not every double merle has health
issues, but make sure before you adopt.
This type of deafness can develop in Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, American Foxhounds, Old
English Sheepdogs, Harlequin Great Danes and Dappled Dachshunds. Another color gene is
the Piebald Color Pattern found in Beagles, Bull Terriers, Greyhounds, Great Pyrenees,
Dalmatians, English Setters and Samoyeds.
The deafness occurs during the very first few weeks of life while the puppies' ears are still
closed, when the blood supply to parts of the inner ear degenerates. The reason this happens
is not known, but may be associated with lack of pigmentation in the blood vessels. Some
breeds become deaf, but it is not related to coat color - such as Dobermans which do not have
merle or piebald genes.
Dogs may also become deaf from exposure to toxins such as poisons, infections, or injuries and
old age. Deafness in dogs is not common. It is not know for sure how deafness is inherited, in
most cases. Deafness may be the result of more than one 'deafness gene', too - therefore a
dog could carry a gene for two different types of deafness and not actually be affected itself,
but could pass both genes along to its offspring. The deafness may affect only one ear
(unilateral) or affect both ears (bilateral).
Breeding from deaf dogs, when the reason for the deafness is unknown is not recommended.
Breeders of Collies are aware that the deafness found in Collies is directly linked to the merle
gene, and that such a breeding will produce hearing and sight impaired dogs. A merle colored
dog, either a sable merle or a blue merle are not defective themselves and have normal hearing
and sight. It is just the combination of two merled parents that produce about 25% defective
puppies in a litter, with the rest of the litter having normal hearing and sight.
| LIVING WITH A DEAF DOG |
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| Canine Deafness |