• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Dog Care 101
    • Choosing A Dog
    • Dog Breed Selector
    • First Days At Home
    • Good Dog Names
    • Potty Training Dogs
    • Puppyproofing & Dog Safety 101
    • Invisible Fence Reviews
    • Dog Ages/Growth Stages
    • Senior Dog Tips
    • Raising Two Dogs
  • Food & Treats
    • Dog Food Kibble
    • Human Foods For Dogs
    • Changing Food & Feeding Tips
    • Homemade Dog Treats
    • Kong Recipes
  • Dog Health
    • Diarrhea Remedy
    • Human Meds For Dogs
    • Dog Skin Issues
    • Flea & Tick Control
    • Vet Tips For Sick Dogs
    • Emergencies & Vet Bills
    • Dog Surgery & Recovery
    • Dog Died …Or Is Dying
  • Tricks & Training
    • Cool Dog Tricks
    • Dog Communication 101
    • DIY Dog Training Tips
    • Behavior Problems
    • Puppy Biting & Chewing
    • Stop Dog Barking
    • Crate Training & Sleeping Advice
  • Dog Cleaning & Grooming
    • Dog Odors & Stains
    • Dog Shedding & Fur
    • Clean & Treat Dog Ears
    • Dog Baths & Deodorizing
    • Dog Nails & Paw Care
    • Teeth & Mouth Issues
    • How To Care For Dog Eyes
  • Toys & Activities
    • Dog Toys, Games & Enrichment
    • DIY Dog Items
    • Places To Go With Dogs
    • Dog Walking Tips & Accessories
    • Car Rides With Your Dog
    • Free And Fun Stuff For Dog Lovers
  • More
    • Electronics & Gadgets
    • Health & Beauty
    • Hobbies & Crafts
    • Home & Garden
    • Jobs & Money
    • Outdoor Fun
    • Travel

First Time Dog Owner Guide

Real People. Real Experiences. Real Helpful.

a Fun Times Guide site

  • New? START HERE!
  • DIY Grooming Tutorials
  • Dog Home Remedies
  • DIY Training Tips
  • Dog Food/Treats
  • Out & About w/Dogs
Home » Home & Garden » DIY Dog Grooming & Dog Cleaning Tips » Dog Ears & Hearing Issues » Dogs & Loud Noises… Are Ear Plugs Necessary?

Dogs & Loud Noises… Are Ear Plugs Necessary?

27 Shares
Pin5
Share22
Tweet

Some articles on this site contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to yourself.


At the IHRA drag races I attended, I photographed several dogs who were accompanying their owners to the races.

The dogs belonged to drag racers and their families who tend to travel with their pets from race to race. In the IHRA drag racing series, there are usually 11 or so races each year — which means a lot of time on the road, and a lot of loud noises for the dogs!

teacup-chihuahua-in-an-rv-at-races.jpgcari-and-her-min-pinscher.jpgschnauser-dog-at-races.jpgweiner-dogs-at-drag-races.jpgracers-walking-yellow-lab-dog.jpglabrador-retriever-in-golf-cart.jpg
black-and-tan-miniature-daschund-at-races.jpg brindle-miniature-daschund.jpg
This led me to wonder… do dogs need ear protection?

What if I take my dog to a race someday? Are there dog earplugs or something that we should consider?

 

Our Dogs At Drag Races

We actually took our Black Lab/Golden Retriever, Destin to the races a couple years ago — when he was a puppy.

He did fine.

The loud noises & people didn’t bother him a bit.

Now, it’s looking like we might be taking our other dog Tenor (a 2-year-old Black Lab/Great Pyrenees) to drag racing events in the near future as well. If we sell our house & travel around the world in an RV while our log home is being built, then we’ll have no choice but to go to the races with Jim.

 

Drag Races: One Of The Loudest Sports

In case you aren’t familiar with the professional sport of drag racing…

The “thrill of the event” is watching (and listening to) loud, thunderous race cars with engines that are powered by Nitro fuel — as evidenced by the smell in the air and the flames shooting out the sides of the cars.

The climax is the moment 2 cars bolt side-by-side down a quarter-mile straight-line track at speeds topping 300 mph.

This all takes place in less than 10 seconds.

Then, the next 2 cars in line repeat the same chain of events. And so on, and so on.

For the record, drag racing events aren’t the only type of events that could affect your dog’s hearing. Think: hunting and other forms of shooting, as well as outdoor events like fireworks displays and music events.

We tend to protect our own hearing at events like these… what about our dog’s?

teacup-chihuahua-on-drag-racing-car.jpg

Do Loud Noises Affect Dogs?… What The Experts Say

destin-at-his-first-drag-racing-event.jpgI could only find 2 cases where the hearing loss of dogs due to loud noises was either being studied or treated. Few “experts” are addressing the effect of loud noises on a dog’s ears.

In one study, Mississippi State veterinary faculty members, clinicians and students are trying to demonstrate whether a hunting dog’s frequent exposure to gunshots can progressively damage its hearing.

Preliminary results from the study:

While a healthy Lab begins to hear sounds at about 10 or 15 decibels — much like a healthy human — Mackin said one test animal that has been heavily exposed to gunshots didn’t respond until 60 decibels, which is quite loud … The research group also includes Dr. David Jennings, a neurologist, and Dr. Amy Janda, a small animal intern, as well as two veterinary students. Janda said the sound at 60 decibels is comparable to half the noise of a jet engine.

And their preliminary conclusion:

Perhaps in the future we will recommend the same precautions for hunting dogs as for hunters, including earplugs.

ESPN reports the final results of the study as follows:

The Labradors chronically exposed to gun blasts through routine duck hunting did in fact have a decrease in their hearing responses. Through testing of brain wave response to specific noise levels, these Labradors showed a three-fold decrease in ability to hear soft noises. Based on testing results, these hunting Labradors were not able to hear the whisper of a human voice.

 

Ear Protection For Dogs

So… do dogs need ear protection to prevent loud noises form damaging their ears?

Yep — just like humans do.

The problem is, there aren’t a lot of dog-friendly ear plugs available on the market yet. You could try stuffing cotton balls into your dog’s ears. Or use “human” sponge-like foam earplugs (…that work very well for people by the way). I’ve even heard of dog owners fitting a piece of pillow foam (from seat cushions, mattress toppers, and pillows) inside your dog’s ear canal.

doggie-earplugs-under-chin.jpgdoggie-earplugs-over-ears.jpgFor the record, we’re not the first to try those bright orange foam-like earplugs on a dog. (They’re the same tension-based disposable ear plugs with foam plugs that are routinely sold at loud sporting events.)

Unfortunately, most dogs can’t stand the flimsy plastic headpiece hovering above their head, or hanging below their chin… and they just “paw” at it or shake their heads vigorously to get it off. (Our dog kept it on longer than other dogs we’ve seen at the racetrack did.)

But thankfully there is one very good product called Mutt Muffs. They are the world’s only over-the-head hearing protector for animals. Mutt Muffs were created by pilots “who know the noise level of the cockpit is unsafe for man or beast.”

pilot-with-dog-wearing-mutt-muffs.jpg big-dog-wearing-mutt-muffs.jpg

Do you really need to buy a product like Mutt Muffs? Check out their FAQ.

Lynnette
Lynnette

I like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money — so I write about “outside the box” Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn’t think of. I’m a lifelong dog owner — currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I’ve always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians — whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I’ve been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started… and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what’s ‘normal’ and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog — how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year! When I’m not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I’ve written over 600 articles for dog owners on this site! Many of them have upwards of 200K shares.

franklin.thefuntimesguide.com/the_face_behind_the_blog/
27 Shares
Pin5
Share22
Tweet

Filed Under: DIY Dog Grooming & Dog Cleaning Tips, Dog Ears & Hearing Issues, Home & Garden Tagged With: Ear Issues With Dogs, Pet Warnings And Dangers

Primary Sidebar

About Me

LynnetteI like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money -- so I write about "outside the box" Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn't think of. I’m a lifelong dog owner -- currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I've always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians -- whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I've been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started... and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what's 'normal' and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog -- how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year! When I'm not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I've written over 500 articles for dog owners on this site! Many of them have upwards of 200K shares.

Lynnette: View My Blog Posts

Top Searches

Adopting/Rescuing A Dog Canine Cancer Tips Celebrity Dog Owners Chewing & Destructive Behavior Cleaning & Odor Tips For Dog Owners Clothing Shoes Hats & Accessories For Dogs Costs & Expenses For Dog Owners Death And Dying In Dogs Diarrhea In Dogs & Poop Issues DIY Dog Stuff Dog Allergies & Skin Issues Dog Behavior Issues Dog Breeds Dog Food Brands & Human Foods For Dogs Dog Games & Activities Dog Gear & Necessities Dog Grooming Tips Dog Injuries & Emergencies Dog Toys & Dog Chews Dog Tricks To Try Eye Issues With Dogs Feeding Tips For Dogs Fun Stuff For Dog Owners Holiday Dog Tips Home Remedies & Alternative Medicine For Dogs Humanizing Dogs Humor About Dogs Indoor Fun With Dogs Kong Dog Toys & Kong Recipes Labrador Retriever Dogs New Dog Owner Tips Old Dogs / Senior Dogs Outdoor Fun With Dogs Peeing And Housebreaking Tips Pet Hair And Shedding Pet Warnings And Dangers Pictures Of Dogs Reviews Of Dog Products Summer Fun For Dogs Travel Dog Tips Treats & Snacks For Dogs Veterinarian And Expert Dog Tips Videos Of Dogs Vomiting Dogs / When To Induce Vomiting Walking Tips & Leashes For Dogs

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Fun Times Guide logo
Shop Our Favorite Items

Copyright © 2004-2021 The Fun Times Guide | Privacy Policy | About | Contact | Sitemap