Honey going Deaf

Sandra –

Hard of hearing or deaf dogs OFTEN sleep far far more deeply (because nothing disturbs them).  

Don’t let her scare you – just realize you can’t “call” her to come normally.

Suggestions:  

1. Do some nosework with there (there are books on this) -- literally you can just work with her in the house hiding toys under a towel or behind a chair. It will help her realize that she can use her nose to supplement her eyes.

2. If she’s outside off leash at night – try using your porchlight to ‘call’ her.  

3. Whatever obedience you’ve done with her in the past – leash her and pair those words (she can lip read probably more than you realize) with a touch sign. “Sit” can be a light touch on her behind. “Lie down” can be a touch right behind her head.

Or you can literally just be in front of her and use hand signs.

4. You remember Muffin the Intrepid?? (That was way back when we were both on AllPets!!) -- I taught him MANY signs. Literally I used ASL (American Sign Language) signs for things like “supper” (or ‘food’), “come”, “good boy”, and the ever popular “I Love YOU!!”

It takes repetition but signs become fun.

 Sandra; Jessie will be 15 in a few weeks and she's been gradually losing her hearing for the past year. She can hear sounds if they're close, but that's all. If there's a good side to it, it's that the neighborhood fireworks don't bother her anymore around the Fourth. She used to get nervous when she heard them, pacing and panting, and I'd  use Valerian and lavender oil to calm her, but that's not necessary now. Like Callie said, they sleep very deeply. I gently pet her head and sides to wake her to avoid startling her.  It's sad, but a natural part of aging. According to the chart at my vet, Jessie's in her upper 80's in human years; Honey is probably slightly younger.  It's great that Honey can still see good; Jessie can't see as well as she used to.  You and I are blessed to have our dogs with us for so long and to be able to help them as they age. The bond just gets stronger. Jessie can't jump in the car anymore so DH and I lift her in. She knows to stand close to the car so I can lift her in and she trusts me completely. I hope you have many more years with your sweet Honey; give her some kisses for me.

My old Prissy went deaf as well -- and she lived to be 20 - little black pom/peke mix.  But her vision went pretty much by the time she was 12-13 and she'd been **pretending** not to hear me since she was about 8.  (oh she was SO good at that)

She responded well to lights -- I used a little hand-held flashlight (one of the ones you can just squeeze on and of??) to help her find me when it was dark -- or help her in the house.  

I agree with Janice so much -- to me it's an honor -- I don't waste time feeling bad because they lose hearing or sight.  It's their badge of honor at making it to old age.  All we have to do is develop coping mechanisms.

Oh -- another I forgot to mention -- a broomstick, Sandra!!  Particularly if it's hollow under the floor (I have a crawlspace under my Florida house -- or if you have a cellar?) -- Take a broomstick or similar and bang bang bang it on the floor.  The vibration likely will get her attention --  and you may find it easier to get her attention from the other room.

Although Tonka didn't have any vision or hearing problems in his last years, he did have trouble jumping up on things.  We put our mattress on the floor so he could still get in bed with us, and we lifted him into the vehicles.

When I hear about dogs with hearing loss, I always wonder if you could put something on their collar that would give a VERY gentle vibration when you want to get their attention.  I don't mean anything like a shock collar -- I mean something that would make a barely detectable vibration, like when your cell phone vibrates in your pocket.  I guess if it were a safe, viable option, people would use something like it already.

I like the flashlight or porch light idea.  I remember that old movie "Voices" with Amy Irving (she was a deaf dancer, and Michael Onktean played her boyfriend).  When her doorbell rang, her lights blinked on and off so she knew someone was at the door.  Kind of the same idea, I guess.

Gentle ear rubs to Honey and Jessie --- I hope I have people who look after me in my old age as lovingly as you guys are caring for them!

Yes, tracy they do -- on .. I **think** it is http://www.deafdogs.org they have instructions to make a gentle vibrating collar to do exactly what you are saying.  If I recall correctly it uses the battery that is in a model airplane maybe?

Our Buck died at 12 yrs 3 months.  For his last year he had vision problems.  He could not see in the dark and also had trouble with depth perception.  He had his own room in the front of the house.  I always felt safe with him sleeping in tht front corner bedroom with hubby on the road so much--he would bark if anyone came into the yard.  We have white walls but dark doors.  One night he went trotting down to his room and  ran head first into the close door.  No idea why it was shut as I always left it open.  I will never forget his yep, not of pain but of astonishment, and ever after made sure the door stayed open and also opened the curtain on the side so light neighbor's  porch.light shined in.

He would also  be glued to our leg--unless on leash.  It was as tho he felt "connected" to us when on leash and knew we were thereto protect him.  One of us always went outside with him after dark so he could dohis business without being scared.

Thanks for all the suggests for helping our Honey girl.  We fel blessed to have had herto such a ripe old age.  So very man goldenr etrievers are dying so young of cancer.  Just a couple of months ago, a 3 year old girl with a new litter of 8 pups was diagnosed with nasal cancer and was bleeding so bad they had to put her to sleep.  To many 5-6 years old are diagnosed with it,  So when anyone has a golden that hits 12, it seems to be a rather rare thing and us lucky "parents" apprecieate them even more.