Can deafness be diagnosed with a BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) test at 8 weeks old?
A. Unfortunately, not always. Deafness in Ridgeback puppies is progressive, and many deaf puppies are hearing at 8 weeks. They begin to go deaf soon after, and from the information we have available, all are bilaterally deaf by nine to 12 months, if not sooner. Q. How is deafness inherited in Ridgebacks? A. Deafness in Ridgebacks is a simple autosomal recessive that is, two non-deaf dogs that each carry the gene for deafness can produce deaf puppies if bred together. In such carrier-to-carrier breedings, each puppy has a 25 percent chance of becoming deaf. Q. How can I guarantee that I never produce a deaf Ridgeback? A. Thanks to the invaluable cooperation of some dedicated Ridgeback breeders and owners, researchers at the University of California at Davis have isolated the genetic mutation that causes deafness in the Rhodesian Ridgeback. They are now in the process of creating a simple cheek-swab test that can identify which dogs are carriers for deafness. Q. What combinations produce
