Any idea how to test a bunny’s hearing?

[JackRabbit]

We’ve been wondering for a while if our boy Moshi has a hearing problem or if he’s just selective about what he reacts to. Marlee reacts to all noises as does Kieko. Moshi doesn’t respond to his name, to thumps, or loud noises. I always announce myself when I enter their room because Marlee startles so easily, but I can do that & be in the room & have Moshi look up & about jump out if his skin! I think he hears us sometimes but may just be responding to movements. Its just hard to tell if he can’t hear ir if he just gets reallt engrossed in whatever he’s doing & just doesn’t pay attention to the noises.

Moshi has had vet checks so there’s nothing physical that has been noted. If he can’t hear, the only thing we would really do differently would be to use motion to announce ourselves or get his attention (ex. Knock on wall so he could feel the vibration). It would just be nice to know if he has a hearing loss. He could very well just be a very busy and stubborn boy!

So, any ideas on how to test at home?

Edit: We wondered about his eyesight for a while too because he would run smack into Marlee during his bunny 500’s but lately he’s been doing graceful hurdles over her when she’s in his way. Still binkies right into her sometimes but she’s learned to move out if the way when he gets excited. We’ve concluded that he can see just fine, just all boy. Hubby says we should have named him Buster! So now we wonder if he can ‘t hear or if he’s just being “Buster”?!

[tanlover14]

Our Nora seems to be partially deaf or even fully deaf as well.

The best thing I came up with was using a door separating two rooms. Have someone with bunny on one side and have someone on the other. Then have the person on the opposite side bang something very loudly, like a pan with a big spoon, or anything that will cause a loud, shocking noise. To test their reactions. The trick is making sure there is nothing else they can react to – like movements.

Hope this is helpful

[JackRabbit]

Thanks. Will try that. Hard part will be finding a noise that will be shocking for Moshi. He loves the shop vac & we’ve used so many others during previous bonding sessions! Will be breaking out the large pans! I have the whole house in an uproar but he’s never heard my son’s saxaphone or guitar/amp!

[tanlover14]

HA! Let me know how it goes!

[bunnygirl]

We are 100% certain that Apollo can hear NOTHING when his ears are down in their usual position. I asked my vet about this, and he said to wait until they’re resting/napping, and then gently take two saucepans and knock them together, getting gradually louder. Obviously if the reaction is quick, you know they can hear just fine. Pointless bun didn’t react at all while he was resting. I then got my mom to hold Apollo and put his ears upright. I did the same thing, and he jumped, looking alert, as they do. So yeah…basically what Tanlover said!

[Monkeybun]

My Squirrel is deaf, probably a genetic thing as there’s no problem with his ear structure. We know, cuz we can vacuum right up to his butt and only THEN will he freak. He has a nightlight now too, cuz we’d always startle him in the dark with him not being able to hear us walking by. And he will react to noises, but only after seeing hte other bunnies freak.. like he thinks if they are freaking, something must be wrong. But then stop and stare around, not hearing what the others are.

[tanlover14]

LMAO! MB, that is like Nora! She only gets excited/scared a few seconds after everyone else does!

Bunnygirl, that’s hysterical! Poor Apollo!

[LBJ10]

Leopold is deaf. We pretty much determined this through a series of tests at home. Later, I had the vet look in there. There doesn’t appear to be anything abnormal about his ears, but the vet agreed that it was likely he could not hear anything.

Test 1: Leopold was completely engrossed in grooming himself. I walked right up to him saying “Leopold”. No reaction. Got right up to him and I bend forward, clapping my hands inches from his head. No reaction. Then he was finished grooming himself. He looked up and startled as if he had no clue I was there.

Test 2: I found a party horn from New Years Eve. Neither rabbit had heard it before. I peeked around the corner and blew the horn. Wooly immediately snapped to attention. No reaction from Leopold whatsoever.

Test 3 (suggested by BBers): I removed Wooly from the room because I felt like Leopold was taking visual cues from him. I held up the treat bag so that it was just out of sight (behind the wall as I looked in through the doorway) and I crinkled it loudly. No reaction from Leopold at all. Wooly, of course, heard me crinkling the bag and came running from the living room. LOL

[JackRabbit]

Tested Moshi. Hubby as the noisemaker in bathroom and me and Moshi in the hallway. Shaking papaya pill bottle, scratching the door, calling his name, banging a pot, & hubby doing his ear piercing 2 fingers in his mouth whistle. No reaction from Moshi. I patted the floor and he comes running.

Looks like the Moshster is deaf. Going to try the test tomorrow with Marlee who we know can hear just to make sure.

Thanks everyone. I also did a little searching and it is apparently fairly common in Holland Lops. Guess I’ll be using lights and motion more to communicate with my boy. Makes sense now — Marlee thumps at us and at Kieko but she nudges Moshi or nips his butt to show disapproval.

[LBJ10]

Yes, it is fairly common to have a deaf Holland. I guess it is something genetic. I wouldn’t worry too much though. Leopold does just fine and I think it helps that he has a friend. Hehe, there are also some advantages to having a deaf rabbit. If I need to grab him, all I do is wait for him to be engrossed in something and I can easily sneak up on him. I guess there are disadvantages too. Leopold can’t hear me say “No” like Wooly can. So he needs to be physically redirected when doing something he shouldn’t. It also took a long time for him to understand that he is hurting you when he bites. I still think he doesn’t fully understand.

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