Is deafness in older pugs inevitable?
Is deafness in older pugs inevitable?
Doodikins on 6/22/2010, 1:19 am
My 13 year old pug Louie, who died in Feb of this year, had been totally deaf for about one year before he left us. A neighbor hood pug that I sometimes baby sit is 14 and he is stone deaf. Is this inevitable? Is there any way to prevent it? Does anyone know what causes it? My ten year old still hears well and I can't bear the thought that he, too, will go deaf. Any advice?
Doodikins-
- Number of posts: 29
Location: Berkeley CA -
Re: Is deafness in older pugs inevitable?
Aussie Witch on 6/22/2010, 6:10 am
Virtually every Pug I have had became deaf or nearly deaf as they grew older. I don't know what you can do to prevent it. I always made sure their ears were clean so that didn't have anything to do with it. Main thing is it doesn't seem to bother them.
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Rona, Imi and Pearl, living Downunder in the Great Southern Land.
Keeping in my heart forever, my beloved Puck and LouLou who crossed the bridge in recent years, and from the early days and always missed - Piaff, Donato, Persia, Dragon and Smugsy. And my horses Madam and Woolfie. Each one of you has taken a piece of my heart. xxxxx
Aussie Witch-
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Location: The Antipodes.
Re: Is deafness in older pugs inevitable?
pugpillow on 6/22/2010, 7:18 am
Several of my oldies have been/are deaf. Mei-ling wasn't and she reached almost 15. Gooey isn't and he's coming up for 14. Farnsworth isn't, although it's not 100%, and he's coming up for 12. In my own experience, and this is far from scientific, it seems that the more wax the ear produces or the higher the incidence of ear infections, the more likely the pug is to go deaf.
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Loving mom to rescues Denver, Gooey, Farnsworth & Betsy. Forever loving Mei-Ling, Kim-Soo, Daisy-Bo & Jake at the Rainbow Bridge and in my heart.
pugpillow-
- Number of posts: 480
Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Is deafness in older pugs inevitable?
Pugsaunt on 6/22/2010, 2:14 pm
Penny doesn't hear as well as she used to, but she still has some hearing. She had an awful time with ear infections until we figured out that it was the wheat that was doing it. She is 12-13 or so.
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Nancy, Mom to Penny Lane, my perfect diva
If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them.
-Phil Pastoret
Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.
Pugsaunt-
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Location: On the shores of Penny's Marina in Sparks, NV
Re: Is deafness in older pugs inevitable?
TNPUGMOMOF3 on 6/22/2010, 5:17 pm
I think they get older and better at ignoring us!! 
Selective hearing.
Selective hearing.
TNPUGMOMOF3-
- Number of posts: 1052
Location: Jackson, TN
Re: Is deafness in older pugs inevitable?
Carol on 6/22/2010, 6:35 pm
My Blossie has been feaf now for over a year....She does great.At first I thought it was selective hearing but nope...She is the grand old age of 13...
Carol-
- Number of posts: 37
Location: Washington
Re: Is deafness in older pugs inevitable?
Pugsaunt on 6/22/2010, 7:10 pm
TNPUGMOMOF3 wrote:I think they get older and better at ignoring us!!
She definitely does that, too.
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Nancy, Mom to Penny Lane, my perfect diva
If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them.
-Phil Pastoret
Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.
Pugsaunt-
- Number of posts: 3707
Location: On the shores of Penny's Marina in Sparks, NV
Re: Is deafness in older pugs inevitable?
pugsandkids on 6/22/2010, 7:19 pm
TNPUGMOMOF3 wrote:I think they get older and better at ignoring us!!
Anna is 7 this September, she's totally got selective hearing!
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Sarah and the gang!
Husband, kids, 3 pugs, cats, rat, birds, snake, and a tortoise
pugsandkids-
- Number of posts: 1315
Location: Oregon
Re: Is deafness in older pugs inevitable?
northernwitch on 6/22/2010, 10:09 pm
Yes and no. Theo is totally deaf, but came to me a year ago at age 11 deaf--it's clear he's had a life time of bad ear infections so I suspect that is it.
I think Lola is losing her hearing at age 14/15, but she's always been so good at ignoring me, it's hard to tell if she's losing her hearing or gaining in attitude.
The rest of the crowd all hear just fine at ages 11 and 11/12.
I think Lola is losing her hearing at age 14/15, but she's always been so good at ignoring me, it's hard to tell if she's losing her hearing or gaining in attitude.
The rest of the crowd all hear just fine at ages 11 and 11/12.
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Blanche, Mom to Tank, Hazel and Theo. (dogs) and Sonny and Angel (cats). Foster mom to Maisie
Rescue Coordinator for Pugalug Pug Rescue.
Always missing Bob, Scout, Pete, Maude and Lola
If you can't afford the vet, you can't afford the pet.
northernwitch-
- Number of posts: 4306
Location: Toronto, Ontario -
Oh No!!Deafness seems inevitable!!
Doodikins on 6/23/2010, 12:56 am
Thanks for all of your responses! Louie had several ear infections when he was young. We changed his diet to raw meat and they stopped. But he still went deaf. Henry has not had many ear infections
so hopefully he will retain his hearing. I have a blog about my boys if anyone is interested: pugmamablog.com
so hopefully he will retain his hearing. I have a blog about my boys if anyone is interested: pugmamablog.com
Doodikins-
- Number of posts: 29
Location: Berkeley CA -
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