My Aunt has just taken on a deaf King Charles Spaniel. Is deafness a breed problem? Is it probable the dog was born deaf?
Julie

Hi Julie,
How old is the dog? If it's an older dog, it's likely that it could have been hearing and gone deaf. That happens in many breeds. If it's a young dog, it's probable that it was born deaf. There are breeds that do have tendency towards deafness, but I don't know if CKC's are known for it.

I've lived with two dogs that went deaf in their middle to later years. It's really not much trouble if you start incorporating hand signals and not startle the dog when its back is turned. Waking up the dog out of a deep sleep should be taken carefully. I used to blow gently on Pepper until she'd wake herself up. Always woke with a smile on her face too :)

Keep an eye out for eye sight degeneration too...sometimes hearing and sight problems accompany one another. The first sign can be difficulties going from a lit area to a darker one...hesitation and confusion where the dog is going to step next. The eyes aren't able to focus the change in light that well.
hth
toodles

Thankyou. The vet thinks the dog is 2-3 yrs. I'll pass on the blowing tip, thats useful :) We do have some history, and it appalls me that no one picked up on the deafness earlier. Yet again it's another tale of a person breeding pedigree's and not commiting to the dogs welfare throughout it's life. The dog has had three homes, he's been stolen and returned twice. "Owners" in the past assumed he was very naughty/untrainable because they didn't have the intellect to realise he was deaf. My aunt took him in after he was put out on the streets by a neighbour, who has confirmed that she doesn't want the dog back. Thankfully he'll be living like a king now, my aunt has always had dogs who lived to a ripe old age. She lost her yorkshire terrier just a few months ago so the little CKC has come along at just the right time. I'll pass on your advice about his eyesight and I'm sure she'll ensure the vet keeps an eye on things.
Thanks again,
Julie :)