How to Help a Senior Dog That Can't Hear
- 1). Confine your elderly dog to the indoors, or to the safety of a thoroughly fenced-in yard. Do not allow her to wander unsupervised in a front yard or a street, as she will not have the ability to hear important warning signs like the sounds of oncoming cars or their horns.
- 2). Communicate with your dog using his other senses. Rather than calling his name, you can get his attention by tapping your foot gently on the floor so that he feels the vibration. You can also use visual stimuli, such as shining a flashlight in his direction to indicate meal time.
- 3). Always use direct eye contact when communicating with your dog. Your eye contact will establish the interpersonal connection that was helped previously by hearing the sound of your voice.
- 4). Approach your dog gently. When trying to wake her, use a soft hand to stroke her fur. When approaching her, always approach from the front or step toward her slowly so that she can see your shadow in advance. Deaf dogs are easily startled, so you should use care whenever you enter her space.
- 5). Teach your dog simple signs based on American Sign Language or another form of hand signing. If you diligently teach your dog the meanings of concepts like "food," "walk" and even his own name using signs the same way that you would teach using words, you can open new doors of communication, according to the Partnership for Animal Welfare. Just use the signs as they correspond with the words. For example, use the sign for "food" at meal time, or use the sign for "walk" when you wish to take your dog outdoors. With enough repetition, your dog will come to understand what all the signs mean.
- 6). Spend quality time with your dog every day. A dog suffering from hearing loss after a lifetime of using auditory senses will often become timid and withdrawn, so spend plenty of time petting her, playing with her and keeping her spirits up. The extra attention will prove crucial as she goes through this challenging chapter in her life.
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