Our lab is 13. We noticed during the summer that his hearing seemed to be deteriorating: he used to be alert as soon as a car pulled up outside the house, he'd run to the door whenever he heard the outside gate open. Since the summer he had stopped doing this, and someone could enter the house and he wouldn't notice until they were right in front of him.
But just in the last couple of weeks, he has gone so deaf he can't seem to hear anything at all. He can't hear us when we call him, he doesn't even react to any loud noises at all. It is so sad to be loudly calling his name when he is just across the room and he can't hear it at all. And of course he can't hear any commands at all, which makes it very difficult when he, for examples, runs into the house with muddy feet and can't hear you calling him back, or when you are trying to get him to move and he won't cause he can't hear the command.
I don't know why I am posting this except it feels quite shocking that it has happened so quickly, and I am sad that he will never hear us calling his name again or react to a command. He used to tilt his head in such a funny way when we talked to him, like he was really trying to understand, and now he won't do that any more. I am worried that it must be distressing for him to suddenly be in a silent world, though he seems OK...
We will of course tell the vet next time we go but I suppose there is nothing that can be done? He has mobility problems (arthritis) also which he is on medication for, but apart from this he was fine at his last vet check up a few months ago. He seem to still be very happy in himself overall, and is more affectionate than ever! Does anyone by any chance have any advice or wise words about the deafness?