Some batteries, like hearing aid batteries, are so tiny that dogs can inhale them, causing damage or infection.

The safest course of action, of course, is to take your pet to the vet. If there are pieces of the hearing aid or battery present in the stomach, surgery may be necessary. Alkaline batteries can cause burns on the tongue, throat and stomach lining.

The majority of homeowners insurance policies cover loss or damaged hearing aids. Because it is considered as personal property, the coverage will come from that part of the insurance policy. Also, you should keep it in mind that the loss or damage will be put under the regular deductible, depending on your policy.

Dogs, and cats too, are attracted to hearing aids. It could be that they smell like you, they taste like ear wax – yummy to a dog, or the battery door wasn’t opened and that whistle just called them over to take a look. The little disc batteries can cause damage to the mouth, throat, or stomach.

Pets sure do love hearing aids, it is not because they want to cause grief in your life but because they love you! Your dog loves you so much they like your smell. And when you have worn a hearing aid for multiple hours in a day, your hearing aid will smell exactly like you.

There are no commercially available hearing aids for dogs; however, there is a technique used to adapt human hearing aids for use in dogs that involves mounting human hearing aids to the dog’s collar and using ear pieces connected to the hearing aids with tubing to go into the dog’s ear.

This means that you, the guardian, must be a skilled trainer or be prepared to work closely with one. The dog also needs to be well trained and a compliant animal2. Hearing aids cost about $3,000 to $5,000 and there are no guarantees1. If you want to try hearing aids for your dog, talk with your veterinarian.

Senile deafness develops gradually, typically occurring at about 13 years of age. Many older dogs lose their hearing but never become completely deaf; however, the loss that has already occurred is permanent. Temporary deafness is often the result of buildup within the ear canals.

Puppies who are deaf may seem slow to learn; they do not respond to their names or pick up verbal commands. Older dogs with acquired deafness may sleep through your arrival home from work. A few simple tests can check a dog’s hearing at home: rattle your keys.

If your dog is totally deaf, do not allow him out of a fenced area unless on a leash. Some otherwise deaf dogs can hear certain frequencies such as a shrill dog whistle. If your dog is lucky enough to have this degree of hearing make sure you use this whistle and reward his response.

Jennifer Freeman, DVM, PetSmart’s resident veterinarian and pet care expert, told Elite Daily, “Dogs are social creatures, so typically, if left alone, they’re likely to sleep or look out the windows and keep an eye on things.” This is your dog’s time to rest and relax, so they’re probably taking advantage of that.