Are merle dogs deaf?
Results: Deafness prevalence in merles overall was 4.6% unilaterally deaf and 4.6% bilaterally deaf. There was a significant association between hearing status and heterozygous versus homozygous merle genotype. For single merles (Mm), 2.7% were unilaterally deaf and 0.9% were bilaterally deaf.
Are Catahoulas prone to deafness?
Those Catahoulas with a white coat or with a white face are also prone to issues with glass eyes. These particular colored dogs can often have an 80% chance of developing Deafness in one or both ears.
Are blue merle dogs deaf?
Blue-eyed merles have no higher incidence of deafness than brown-eyed merles. Just because a dog is double-merle, don’t assume he’s deaf. Dr. George Strain of Louisiana State University is the go-to expert on coat color and deafness in dogs.
Are all double merles deaf and blind?
No, definitely not. They can be one or the other or even neither, though a healthy White Dane is more uncommon. With this in mind, deaf and / or blind are not the only risks of breeding spot x spot. The puppies in this litter can have a wide array of health issues as well as mental issues due to irresponsible breeding.
How do I know if my puppy is deaf?
Watch your puppy walk through the house. If it doesn’t turn its ears toward sounds, that is a sign of hearing loss. You can also shake keys or play with a squeaky toy to see if your puppy will react to the sound. A deaf puppy will not react to “exciting” noises or voices.
Are merle dogs prone to health issues?
as well as those that have the merle allele are prone to sensory, neurological and /or immunological problems. These defects have been observed and researched in other dog breeds (i.e. Australian Shepherds, Great Danes, Shetland Sheepdogs) that also carry these dilution alleles including the merle allele.
What is a double merle Catahoula?
In the past, a double merle Catahoula, which has been phenotypically identified by many breeders as a dog displaying more than a 70% white coat color, may actually have a full colored coat.
Can a vet tell if my puppy is deaf?
Certain veterinary specialists can perform the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) Test. This is the most reliable method for determining deafness in dogs. The test was first used in infants and is now being used to evaluate hearing in dogs.
How can I test if my dog is deaf?
How can u tell if a dog is deaf?
What are the symptoms of deafness in dogs?
- Show a change in obedience or attentiveness.
- Appear unresponsive to everyday sounds, such as the doorbell or vacuum.
- Appear unresponsive to his/her name.
- Fail to respond to familiar verbal commands.
- Be difficult to rouse from sleep.
- Be less active.
- Bark excessively.
How can you tell if a dog is deaf?
Does merle cause health problems?
Double merles – a lot of health problems Hearing impairment – ranging from light deficits to complete deafness. Vision impairment – up to complete blindness. Microphthalmia: a rare condition causing very small eyeballs that sometimes have to be removed.
Do merle dogs have more health problems?
Yes – merle dogs can be just as healthy as dogs that have a solid color. They have the same life expectancy, they are just as strong and athletic and smart as their counterparts without the merle gene. In lines with responsible merle breedings, all offspring will be healthy and live a long life.
What happens if you breed a deaf dog?
If deafness is carried as a theoretical simple autosomal recessive gene (d), the breeding of two hearing carriers (Dd) (Table 1) will result, on average, in 25% affected dogs (dd), 50% hearing carriers (Dd), and 25% free of the defect (DD).
Is it possible for a double merle to be deaf?
There is a possibility that a double merle will be bilaterally deaf, unilaterally deaf, or not deaf at all. Blindness and other vision impairment. Most of the time, a double merle dog will have some sort of blindness or vision impairment.
What is a double merle?
Image 1. In a double merle, the marbling/lightening effect is doubled and the coat becomes predominantly white. Double merles also have a very high chance of being deaf, blind, or both because they lack pigment where it would normally be. Image 1.
Can a double merle dog go blind?
Most of the time, a double merle dog will have some sort of blindness or vision impairment. Since the merle doesn’t only dilute the coat color, but it also dilutes the eyes and pigments of the eyes. Blindness can definitely range in double merle dogs from slight vision impairment to completely blind.