2008 DACA National Specialty August 30th, 2008 Hutto, TX

About Us
Dogo History
DACA History
Breed Standard
Contact the BOD
2008 National Specialty
Dogo T-shirts
Our Sponsors
Dogo Show Calendar
Hunt Testing Rules & Regs
Membership Info.
Dogo Registration
Dogo Memorial
Message Board TOU
Message Boards
Dogo Themed Gifts
DACA Rescue
Dogo Health and Education

Deafness in Dogos:

Dogo's, like any primarily white dog, can be born partially or completely deaf. For this reason it is of utmost importance that ALL Dogos be BAER tested.

What IS BAER testing?

The BAER (Brain Auditory Evoked Response) test is a safe and painless test to determine if a dog has a hearing loss.  A BAER test is performed by inserting an earphone into the ear canal, while recording needle electrodes are inserted in the skin to record brain wave response.  Each ear is tested individually.  Generally a series of one thousand clicks are transmitted via the earphone to stimulate a response.  The response is detected by the needle electrodes, transmitted to the BAER device, where it is recorded.  The click series starts at 70 decibels and is gradually increased to 105 decibels (if hearing is not detected at the lower levels).
        By recording the response signals from the needle electrodes, the BAER device can then produce a graphic display of the dog's hearing responses.  A flat line depicts no response, therefore, no hearing.  A wavy line of peaks and valley depicts responses and hearing sense in that ear.
        A dog that is labeled unilateral has hearing in only one ear. Bilateral normal has hearing in both ears. Bilateral abnormal has no hearing in either ear, and the dog is deaf.

Where can I go to get BAER testing done in my area?
We've compiled a list to help you to find a vet that does BAER testing in your area. Click here to view this list.

Click here to view sample BAER test result print outs, and how to read them

*Photos Copyright © 2004 Dogo Argentino Club of America. Photo's may not be reused, altered, or posted elsewhere, without express written consent from the DACA.

More information resources on Deafness in Dogs:

• "Deafness prevalence and pigmentation and gender associations in dog breeds at risk," The Veterinary Jouranl 167(1):23-32, 2004 (PDF format). © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd.
• "Hereditary deafness in dogs and cats: Causes, prevalence, and current research," Tufts' Canine and Feline Breeding and Genetics Conference, Old Sturbridge, MA. October, 2003. Conference PowerPoint presentation.
• "Congenital deafness and its recognition," Veterinary Clinics of North America - Small Animal Practice 29:895-907, 1999. © 1999 W.B. Saunders.
• Deafness data analysis from: Strain, G.M. and B.L. Tedford. 1996. Deafness prevalence and associated phenotypic markers in dog breeds with high risk. Proc. 14th Ann. Vet. Med. Forum, ACVIM 14:772. San Antonio, May, 1996.

If you have further information that you feel would benefit the persons who visit this site, please feel free to submit that information/link to the webmaster.