How to Tell If My Puppy Is Deaf or Blind: Early Signs

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD · 2026-10-02

A puppy who does not turn toward your voice, sleep through loud noises, or startle when you approach may be deaf or blind. Learning how to tell if my puppy is deaf starts with watching how your puppy responds to sound and movement in everyday situations. This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

Quick Answer

• A puppy with normal hearing turns toward sounds, wakes when you call, and reacts to a food bag or squeaky toy. A puppy who does none of these things may have hearing loss [1].
• Deafness can be present at birth (congenital) or develop later from infection, injury, or inner ear changes [1].
• Some dogs with grayish-blue and white coat patterns are born deaf, and certain breeds are affected more often, including the Dalmatian, Bull Terrier, Australian Heeler, Catahoula, English Cocker Spaniel, Parson Russell Terrier, and Boston Terrier [1].
• Blind puppies may bump into furniture, hesitate at stairs, or stop making eye contact with moving objects. Blindness and deafness can occur together.
• Only your veterinarian can confirm hearing or vision loss. A brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) test gives the most definitive diagnosis of deafness [2].

What Normal Puppy Senses Look Like

Puppies develop hearing and vision in the first weeks of life. By the time you bring your puppy home, they should notice you walking into the room, turn toward your voice, and follow a toy with their eyes. A puppy who sleeps through the vacuum, does not wake when the food bin opens, or never reacts to a doorbell is worth a closer look.

Some puppies are simply calm or deeply asleep. That is why you should test responses more than once, in different rooms, and at different times of day. One quiet reaction is not proof of deafness. A pattern of no reaction to sound, repeated over days, is a stronger signal.

How to Tell If My Puppy Is Deaf: Early Signs

Signs you may notice at home

A puppy with hearing loss often does not respond to sound at all. With deafness in both ears, there is a lack of response to sound stimuli [2]. Watch for these behaviors:

• Does not turn toward your voice or a whistle
• Sleeps through loud noises, including pots clanging or a vacuum
• Does not wake when you call their name from across the room
• Watches your face and hands closely, as if reading you instead of listening
• Startles when you touch them from behind or walk into their view
• Barks or vocalizes more than littermates, or makes unusual sounds
• Does not react to other dogs barking nearby

A puppy who is deaf in only one ear may show no obvious signs at all. Unilateral deafness often has no visible clinical signs [2]. That is one reason a home test can miss the problem.

A simple at-home sound check

Wait until your puppy is awake but relaxed, and not looking at you. Stand behind or to the side, out of view. Make a sharp sound, such as clapping, jingling keys, or squeaking a toy. A hearing puppy will turn, prick the ears, or blink. A deaf puppy will not.

Repeat this on both sides and at different distances. Do not use a sound so loud that it could hurt your puppy's ears. If your puppy never responds, note it and tell your veterinarian.

How to tell if my dog can hear or can't hear

Older puppies and adult dogs show similar signs. A dog who used to come when called but now does not may be losing hearing. Age-related changes to the cochlea are the most common cause of permanent acquired deafness [1]. If your dog seems to ignore you, first rule out simple reasons like being distracted or tired. Then look for a consistent pattern of no response to sound.

How to Tell If My Puppy Is Blind: Early Signs

Vision loss in puppies can be easy to miss because puppies adapt quickly. Watch for:

• Bumping into walls, furniture, or door frames
• Hesitating at stairs or refusing to jump off the couch
• Not following a moving toy or your hand with their eyes
• Startling easily when people or pets approach
• Walking with a high-stepping or cautious gait
• Keeping the head tilted or turning the head to scan the room
• Becoming clingy or anxious in new places

You can do a gentle at-home check. Hold a cotton ball or soft cloth in your hand and drop it in front of your puppy's face without touching them. A sighted puppy usually blinks or tracks the movement. A blind puppy may not react. Never poke or wave objects close to the eyes. If you are unsure, leave the testing to your veterinarian.

Main Causes of Deafness and Blindness in Puppies

Ear infections are a common and treatable cause of hearing loss in puppies. If you notice head shaking, scratching, or a bad smell from the ears, read How To Tell If My Dog Has A Ear Infection and How To Check If My Dog Has Ear Infection. If your puppy is also tilting the head or losing balance, see How To Tell If My Dog Has An Inner Ear Infection.

Red Flags That Make It an Emergency

Some causes of sudden hearing or vision loss need care right away. Go to an emergency clinic if your puppy has any of these:

• Sudden blindness in one or both eyes
• Sudden hearing loss after a loud noise, head injury, or fall
• Head tilt, circling, falling, or rolling
• Eyes that are red, cloudy, bulging, or held closed
• A swollen or painful ear with discharge or bleeding
• Collapse, seizures, or trouble standing
• Possible poisoning or exposure to a drug that can damage hearing

These signs can point to inner ear disease, trauma, or other serious problems [1]. Do not wait to see if it improves on its own.

Safe Things You Can Do at Home While Waiting

You can help your puppy feel secure while you arrange a veterinary visit.

• Keep the environment predictable. Do not move furniture around if vision may be affected.
• Approach from the front or gently touch your puppy's chest before picking them up, so you do not startle them.
• Use hand signals and vibration (a stomp on the floor) instead of only your voice.
• Keep your puppy on a leash in unfamiliar places, even in a fenced yard.
• Block stairs and pools until your veterinarian checks your puppy.
• Do not put anything into the ear canal, including cotton swabs, oils, or home remedies.
• Do not give any medication unless your veterinarian prescribes it. The dose is calculated from your puppy's weight and health.

If your puppy is deaf, you may notice behavior changes such as barking, anxiety, or not responding to commands. These are common and manageable. For more on this, see Deaf Dog Behavior Problems.

What the Veterinarian Will Check and Test

Your veterinarian will start with a full history and physical exam. They will look at the ear canals with an otoscope to check for wax, debris, infection, or a ruptured eardrum [1]. They will also examine the eyes, test pupil responses, and check for a menace response (a blink when something moves toward the eye).

If hearing loss is suspected, the most definitive test is the brainstem auditory evoked response, or BAER [2]. This test measures the brain's electrical response to sound and can detect deafness in one or both ears. It is often done in puppies before they go to new homes, especially in breeds at higher risk [1].

For vision, your veterinarian may check tear production, eye pressure, and the retina. They may refer you to a veterinary ophthalmologist for advanced imaging.

Treatment depends on the cause. Hearing often returns after ear canal blockage or infection is resolved [1]. There is generally no treatment for other forms of deafness, so management focuses on safety and training [2]. If your puppy has other health problems, such as worms, your veterinarian may address those too. See How Do You Know If Your Dog Has Worms Symptoms for signs to watch.

Prevention and Monitoring

You cannot prevent inherited deafness, but you can reduce some acquired causes. Keep your puppy's ears clean and dry, and treat ear infections early [1]. Avoid very loud noise exposure, such as fireworks at close range [1]. Use medications only as prescribed, since some drugs can damage hearing [1].

If you have a breed at higher risk, ask your veterinarian about BAER testing before or shortly after you bring your puppy home [1]. For puppies with vision loss, keep routines steady and monitor for changes in behavior or appetite.

Sensory decline is common as dogs age, and it is often mistaken for normal aging or cognitive dysfunction [3]. Regular veterinary visits help catch these changes early [3]. If your dog is a senior and seems to be slowing down, ask your veterinarian about screening for vision and hearing loss.

Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian

Home tests are a starting point, not a diagnosis. A puppy can pass a casual sound check and still be deaf in one ear [2]. Only a veterinarian can confirm hearing or vision loss and find the cause.

Contact your veterinarian the same day if your puppy has ear pain, discharge, head shaking, a head tilt, or a sudden change in behavior. Go to an emergency clinic now for sudden blindness, sudden hearing loss after trauma or noise, collapse, seizures, or a suspected poisoning. Schedule a routine visit if you have noticed a slow pattern of not responding to sound or vision changes over weeks.

Every puppy is different. Your veterinarian needs to examine your individual puppy to give you accurate advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a puppy be born deaf?

Yes. Deafness can be present at birth, called congenital deafness [1]. It can be inherited or caused by damage before birth from a virus or a poisonous substance [1]. Some dogs with grayish-blue and white coat patterns are born deaf, and certain breeds are affected more often [1].

Does my puppy have an ear infection or is it deaf?

Ear infections often cause head shaking, scratching, odor, or discharge, and hearing loss can come with them [1]. Deafness alone usually has no ear pain or discharge. If you see ear symptoms, have your veterinarian check the ears, because treating the infection may restore hearing [1].

Can hearing loss in puppies be reversed?

Sometimes. Hearing often returns after ear canal blockage or infection is resolved [1]. Permanent acquired deafness most often comes from age-related changes to the cochlea, and other forms generally have no treatment [1][2]. Your veterinarian can tell you what to expect based on the cause.

How is deafness diagnosed in dogs?

The most definitive test is the brainstem auditory evoked response, or BAER [2]. It measures the brain's response to sound and can detect deafness in one or both ears [2]. Your veterinarian may also examine the ear canals and check for infection or blockage [1].

Will a deaf or blind puppy have a good quality of life?

Yes, most do well with a few changes at home. Keep routines predictable, use hand signals, and supervise your puppy around stairs, pools, and traffic. Sensory loss can affect behavior and the human-animal bond, so ask your veterinarian for guidance and support [3].

Related Articles

• How To Tell If My Dog Has A Ear Infection
• How To Tell If My Dog Has An Inner Ear Infection
• How To Check If My Dog Has Ear Infection
• How Do You Know If Your Dog Has Worms Symptoms
• Deaf Dog Behavior Problems
• How Do I Know If My Dog Has Behavior Problems

References

1. Deafness in Dogs - Dog Owners. Merck Veterinary Manual.
2. Deafness in Animals - Ear Disorders. Merck Veterinary Manual.
3. Sensory Decline: Real-World Tactics for Managing Vision and Hearing Loss. The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice, 2026.

Further Reading

• Merck Veterinary Manual: Dog Owners
• Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center: Canine Health Information
• American Veterinary Medical Association: Pet Care