DEAFNESS AND ITS DIAGNOSIS IN DOGS AND CATS

The problem of inherited deafness in various breeds of dogs and cats c atches more and more attention in concerned breeders and owners. This article presents an update in the current knowledge of prevalence, aet iology and genetics of sensorineural deafness and its differentiation against aquired forms of hearing disorders. An electrophysiological me thod (Auditory Evoked Potentials) to obtain an objective diagnosis of hearing disorders is presented. The usefulness of Auditory Evoked Pote ntials as an instrument for genetic investigations in inherited deafne ss is discussed.