Don't assume that your old dog is ignoring you when you call him to come and he doesn't respond. He may not be able to hear you. As dogs age, they experience degenerative changes in the inner ear and a stiffening of the eardrum. As a result, their hearing becomes less acute.

Diagnosing Deafness

If you suspect that your dog isn't hearing so well anymore, try this test. Walk up behind him and make a noise by clapping your hands or dropping your keys. If he doesn't jump up and whirl around in response, he may well have suffered partial or total hearing loss. Your veterinarian can confirm the diagnosis of deafness and make sure that it's not caused by a treatable condition such as an ear infection or neurologic disease.

Living with a Deaf Dog

Some simple adjustments can help you communicate just fine with your deaf dog. To let him know you're behind him, stomp your foot. He'll feel the vibrations and know where you are.

Make use of the hand signals you learned in obedience class. Many dogs respond better to hand signals than to verbal commands anyway. As for a dog that is partially or totally deaf, he'll simply make more use of his senses of sight and smell.

Finally, you may want to consider acquiring a canine hearing aid for your dog. Yes, they're available. If you have pet health insurance, check to see if your plan covers hearing aids, which cost about $400. Keep in mind, however, that dog hearing aids can fall out easily, so they may become lost.