If you suspect your dog is deaf, your vet will recommend the BAER (Brainstem Auditory-Evoked Response) test since hearing loss can be very difficult to evaluate by clinical examination (ie. behavioural response to sounds). The BAER test is a painless and reliable means of detecting hearing loss in one or both ears, that is available at veterinary schools and referral centres. It can be used in puppies of 5 weeks of age on. Older pups and adult dogs may need to be sedated for the test.

Dogs in breeds with a high incidence of deafness should be tested by the BAER test before being used for breeding, and pups should be tested before being sold.

Inherited deafness in one or both ears occurs due to the degeneration of sensory inner ear structures (sensorineural deafness) within a few weeks of birth. This occurs in many breeds and is especially common in the Dalmatian.

The trait for deafness is tied to the genetics of coat colour, particularly in breeds with the merle or piebald gene. There is an increased risk of deafness with increasing amounts of white in the coat. 

Breeding advice

Controlled breeding can reduce deafness. Any Dalmatian to be used for breeding should be checked by the BAER test. Pre-breeding BAER screening should also be used in other breeds where congenital deafness is a problem. Bear in mind that dogs who are deaf in 1 ear appear to function normally, but they should not be used for breeding as this contributes to the perpetuation of this disease.