Deafness in the dog and cat

摘要

Deafness, and, in particular, congenital deafness, has been recognised in veterinary species for a number of years, with the first documentation of congenital deafness in dogs in 1896 (Rawitz, 1896) and in cats in 1898 (Darwin, 1898). Currently deafness is diagnosed in small animal practice with increasing frequency, largely as a result of heightened awareness among owners, breeders and clinicians. Pet owners and breeders want to understand why their animals are deaf and, in the case of inherited deafness, what they can do to prevent transmission to future litters. The aims of this article are to: 1. review the auditory structures and their function; 2. understand the underlying causes and mechanisms of deafness; 3. to discuss the appropriate diagnostic tools used in the investigation of deafness.