Deaf or not listening? (My Cooper boy)

[NewfieMama]

For the past few weeks Cooper has been "off". When he SEES us he is happy as a clam, prancing and dancing and wanting to be my velcro boy. HOWEVER several times lately I've come home to the house in the daytime or my husband gets up in the AM and is greeted only by Zu...Cooper is snoozing away somewhere. And we can surprise him by walking all the way up and touching him.

At the dog park his recall has gone to zero unless he's looking at me (and I make a TOUCHDOWN sign - I'm not subtle) and he comes right over.

His ears get cleaned with Zymox once-twice a week. He moans when we rub them. I had him at the vet last week and the vet said his hearing was fine...but something is niggling at me.

Thoughts?

Mary

 

[Murphy]

Hmmmmmmm.... no thoughts Mary... But keep us posted... :grouphug:

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

What if you crinkle foil or a cheese wrapper behind him? Elvis can go from snoring to drooling just by opening the cheese drawer.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

How old is Cooper now? Any meds? What tick stuff do you use? Anything around the time this started? Treated the yard? New heart worm meds?

 

[Lori]

Has he had a lot of ear infections? Chance had a lot and did lose his hearing as he got older. I never had him tested but just knew. If I wasn't in his line of sight he would bark until I popped around the corner so he could see me. If he was sleeping, I made sure not to startle him. I would either blow gently on him or stroke his fur very lightly.

 

[NewfieMama]

Has he had a lot of ear infections? Chance had a lot and did lose his hearing as he got older. I never had him tested but just knew. If I wasn't in his line of sight he would bark until I popped around the corner so he could see me. If he was sleeping, I made sure not to startle him. I would either blow gently on him or stroke his fur very lightly.

No changes in food or meds. It is allergy season, which is what I am suspecting - he gets itchy on his feet as the grass comes in, etc.

No ear infections per se but they *need* to be cleaned often or they get stinky (whereas Zuzu's really don't stink ever).

The thing that mystifies me is the vet saying he's absolutely fine when I can walk into the house and across 3 rooms to where he's sleeping without him even stirring.

Even shaking a treat box or opening the fridge brings only Zuzu unless Coop is in line of sight...

 

[new_2_newf]

i would take something you know he will respond to and set him up. I can open the lid to the cookie jar and my boy can hear it outside and comes to the door for a treat. if you can't get a response from behind him to something you KNOW he responds to, or if he always met you at the door and now doesn't, I'd ask for a second opinion. If sulley is in a very deep sleep, I can do almost anything to him or around him and not get much of a response.

 

[pecanpiepatti]

Our Magnum is same way when sleeping; I can actually drag him and he won't wake up. Ohter suggestions here good; take what you know he responds to and get behind him; also might want to clean his ears to see if impacted w/hair and wax.

 

[blaue_augen]

i would take something you know he will respond to and set him up. I can open the lid to the cookie jar and my boy can hear it outside and comes to the door for a treat. if you can't get a response from behind him to something you KNOW he responds to, or if he always met you at the door and now doesn't, I'd ask for a second opinion. If sulley is in a very deep sleep, I can do almost anything to him or around him and not get much of a response.

I think a set up sounds like a good idea, but try to use something he can't smell. Suki will come running when I open the peanut butter jar even if she is in the other room and can't see or hear me.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

Some dogs sleep soundly when they get older and some do lose their hearing as they age too, but Coop isn't old. How did the vet test his hearing?

 

[NewfieMama]

Some dogs sleep soundly when they get older and some do lose their hearing as they age too, but Coop isn't old. How did the vet test his hearing?

The vet just handled him regularly in the course of the exam, and looked at his ears.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

You may want to see a specialist if you really think there is a problem as it might be correctable if treated early. If he is deaf, he will not respond to anything going on around him. I had a 12 yr old Lab that was deaf and the only way I could get his attention was to catch his attention with hand signals.