A dog relies on their hearing — which is much more sensitive than our own — to fully appreciate the world around them. However, they can also experience hearing loss as they age or perhaps by an accident, just the same as people. Luckily, some simple pet care tips will help preserve your dog’s hearing over time.

How to Take Care of a Dog’s Hearing

1. Avoid Loud Noises

Just as they do for humans, loud noises can damage the hairs in your pup’s inner ears, causing permanent hearing loss. While you can hear sounds up to 20,000 Hz, many dogs can hear sounds up to 55,000 Hz. Avoid taking them to places where there may be loud consistent noises such as fireworks, music playing, police sirens, jackhammering, airplane engines, gunfire, or other similar noises.

2. Take Care With Toddlers

Small children don’t always know how to properly interact with dogs. Accidents can happen if they try to put an object in your dog’s ear, such as a crayon or a toy vehicle. Teach young children how to treat dogs carefully and continue to monitor them when they are together.

3. Keep Ears Clean & Dry

Your dog’s ears are large, which makes them an excellent place for bacteria to enter their body. Ear infections are painful and can cause both temporary and permanent hearing loss.

Use a damp cloth to carefully clean your dog’s ears as part of their routine pet care grooming. Also, remember to dry their ears with cotton balls after swimming or bathing to keep moisture out. You should take them to see the vet immediately if you see signs of an infection. These include constant scratching at the ear, head shaking, a dark discharge, redness and swelling in the ear, and scabs inside the ear.

The veterinary team at Canal Road Animal Hospital will help keep your furry family member healthy and happy throughout their life. They offer a full array of pet care services at their state-of-the-art clinic in Orange Beach, AL. Whether your dog needs a routine checkup, grooming, or treatment for an ear infection, they handle it all. Learn more about their services on their website, and call (251) 968-7387 to schedule an appointment today.