If you've noticed that your dog isn't responding to commands as quickly as it used to, the animal isn't necessarily being defiant. There's a possibility that your pet may not react to what you're saying because it's struggling to hear. There are many different indicators that may lead you to believe your dog is suffering from hearing loss to some degree. If you have this worry, it's worthwhile to schedule a checkup with the pet's veterinarian. The vet can assess the animal's ears to determine the likely culprit for the hearing difficulties. Here are three potential reasons.

Ear Infection

A severe ear infection can often affect your dog's ability to hear. Although pets often get an infection in just one ear, there's always a possibility that your pet could have this issue in both ears — making it extremely difficult for the animal to hear for a period of time. There are often a number of indicators that your dog could have an ear infection beyond just some hearing loss. For example, you might see redness around the ear, and the dog may chronically be scratching this part of its body. If the vet determines that your dog has an ear infection, they'll provide medication that should clear it up and restore the animal's hearing.

Ear Trauma

It's also possible for your dog to develop hearing loss in one of its ears as a result of some type of trauma to the ear. This damage can occur in all sorts of different ways. For example, if your dog was recently attacked by another pet at a local dog park, the altercation could have left your pet with damage to one of its ears — resulting in hearing difficulties. The veterinarian will assess the condition of each of the pet's ears and determine what treatment, if any, may be appropriate.

Ear Wax

Like humans, dogs have a certain amount of wax in their ears. When there's too much wax, it can often affect an animal's ability to hear. Some dogs tend to accumulate more wax than others, and the veterinarian will assess the amount of wax that is present in each of your dog's ears and determine if there's too much. The vet can use multiple ways of removing some of the wax, which can often have a positive impact on your pet's ability to hear. Reach out to your veterinarian clinic if you've found that your dog's hearing is on the decline.

Contact a company like Johnstown Veterinary Associates to learn more.