Breeder Jill Butcher holds her Dalmatian
pup while Dr Craig Johnston tests its hearing.
Dog deafness spotted
Congenital deafness is a problem in Dalmatian
dogs in New Zealand but by giving puppies hearing tests it is hoped
the disorder can be bred out.
The genetic disorder, which is also common in other white-coated
dog breeds, causes Dalmatian pups to lose their hearing at about
four weeks of age. Sometimes it is just one ear, sometimes both,
but even if they still have hearing in one ear the breeders say
the dogs’ quality of life is severely affected.
Responsible breeders are coming to Massey to detect the hearing
loss to ensure those genetics are not carried on down the line.
Veterinarian Dr Craig Johnston uses a procedure similar to that
used on small children. He inserts small electrodes just under the
dog’s skin on the skull and plays a continuous clicking noise
through a microphone into each ear. The electrodes pick up the dog’s
brain detecting the sound. If the dog can hear the sound is portrayed
as waves on a computer screen, if not the line is flat.
Dalmatian breeder Jill Butcher says breeders need to be responsible
to ensure genetic disorders such as the hearing loss are bred out
of the dogs. The simple tests done at Massey are the best way to
do that, she says.
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