Are white dogs deaf? Are Dalmatians deaf and what is the cause of Dalmatian deafness? Why did I end up with a dead boston terrier? What are the most common deaf dog breeds? These are the most popular questions owners ask regarding the causes of dog deafness. There are four different types of genetic defects that affect deaf puppies.
The first genetic error involves the piebald gene. This is a pigmentation gene, which determines the color of the dog’s coat. The increasing amount of white on a dog’s coat and head increases the likelihood of deafness. The piebald gene is common in the Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, Samoyed, Greyhound, Great Pyrenees, Beagle, Bulldog, Jack Russel Terrier, Dalmatian, and English Setter. It is not yet clear how these genes are passed on. Like the Samoyed, a totally white race, it does not present any problem of hereditary deafness.
Fortunately, there are no links between genetic piebald deafness and other specific health problems (other than those present in a particular breed), it’s just healthy dogs that can’t hear.
The second occurrence of hereditary and congenital deafness involves the merle genes, in particular the homozygous merle gene. The merle or mottle gene creates light and dark areas of color in the dog’s coat. The problem arises when two dogs with the merle coat gene are crossed. In that case, there is a 25% chance that the offspring will inherit the homozygous merle gene. These homozygous blackbird pups are also called “double blackbird” or “deadly white” pups.
Double blackbird pups will have large amounts of white in their fur and some blackbird patches. In addition to being deaf, these puppies can also be blind, partially sighted, have severe organ problems, as well as allergies and skin problems. Some do not live long, hence the nickname “deadly white”. Not all double blackbird pups have the full range of problems, as some may be deaf and suffer from allergies, or deaf with partial vision loss. In this case, the double merle gene causes a wide range of health problems in addition to deafness. Breeds affected by merle genes include: Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, Harlequin Great Danes, Dappled Dachshund, American Foxhound, and Old English Sheepdog.
A third occurrence of genetic deafness was discovered in Pointers. Although Pointers have a piebald gene, a recessive gene is thought to be the cause of the deafness and is not related to a predominantly white coat or head. This recessive gene causes only total deafness in puppies and not partial hearing loss without further health problems. Breeds affected by this recessive gene are Pointers, Whippets, and Rottweilers.
A fourth type of genetic deafness has been discovered in Doberman Pinschers. Dobermans and Shropshire terriers do not carry the merle or piebald genes, however the deafness is caused by a simple autosomal recessive gene and is not related to an excessive amount of white in the coat. Unfortunately, these dogs also have balance issues and may walk with their heads tilted or in circles.
Since puppies affected by the double merle gene have a wide range of health problems, there is a common belief that ALL deaf dogs have additional health problems. Dalmatians, deaf or not, can have problems specific to the breed, not because of deafness. It is also widely believed that only white dogs can be born deaf and neither of these common beliefs is entirely accurate. It is important to know the different characteristics of each genetic error and the breeds that are affected by them. There is also a higher incidence of deafness in liver-spotted Dalmatians and blue-eyed Dalmatians.
