Deafness
In common with other white-coated dogs, English Setters seem to have a few incidents of deafness. In relation to the total breed population, the percentage is probably fairly small, although no firm statistics are available. To date, no detailed study has been carried out in the UK although it is possible that the condition may be hereditary. Sometimes the deafness can be unilateral (deaf in one ear) and in other cases it can be bilateral (deaf in both ears). In the former case, the dog can lead a perfectly happy life with limited hearing. In the latter case, it can lead to problems as the animal cannot hear commands or be aware of imminent danger (eg traffic). It should be noted that a deaf puppy in a litter may be difficult to identify as it appears normal in every way when awakened with littermates. If it is noted that a single puppy is slow to awaken and sometimes needs touching to waken it, this should give cause for suspicion.
Hearing Tests
Hearing tests are available from three weeks of age. Enquire from a vet or a breed club if you require further information. A Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) test can be organised by your Vet. This test is pain free, requiring no sedation or co-operation on the puppies part. Deaf puppies can lead perfectly happy lives but need a very committed owner to overcome the obvious difficulties. Dogs with impaired hearing should not be used for breeding.