A deaf Dalmatian named Blu has left the internet in tears after a video of him barking at his owner went viral on social media a few months ago.
In the video shared by the dog’s owner on TikTok in January under the username Blus_clues8, the Dalmatian can be seen lying on his owner’s bed, barking and wagging his tail.
The post was shared to reply to a user comment from a previous post, which read, “I’ve never heard a deaf dog bark and it’s my new favorite thing now.”
Image from a photo agency. A Dalmatian. A deaf Dalmatian barking loudly has the internet in tears. Getty Images
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, just like humans, dogs can experience hearing loss as they age, and it’s usually a gradual process that can be hard to notice.
“The eardrums become less flexible and sounds are not transmitted as well. Some dogs lose their hearing as a result of a chronic ear infection. Still others suffer a traumatic injury to the ear, resulting in hearing loss. Finally, some dogs are born deaf due to a genetic defect; this is called congenital deafness,” their website reads.
Additionally, they say that in most cases of congenital deafness, the deafness is pigment-related and most of the dogs affected have an all-white or mostly white coat, although they are not to be confused with albino dogs.
The breeds most likely to experience pigment-related deafness include Australian Shepherds, Dalmatians, Great Danes, and Welsh Corgis, among others.
Central Texas Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital says symptoms of significant hearing loss in dogs include a change in obedience or attention; not responding to everyday noises such as the doorbell or the vacuum cleaner; appearing not to respond to his/her name; not responding to familiar verbal commands; difficult to wake from sleep; being less active, barking excessively, and shaking or nodding your head.
The post quickly gained popularity across social media, attracting animal lovers from across the platform and has garnered over 190,000 views and 32,500 likes so far.
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@blus_clues8
Reply to @ay.ay.ron90 #dalmatian #god #deafdog #dogsoftiktok
♬ Original soundtrack – Blu Howell
One user, Kashkarinaaaa, commented, “What if he can hear fr fr but just ignores you.” And usernotavailable said, “Y’all I’ve never seen a Dalmatian in real life.” VaehDaPlaya joked, “Minecraft dog kinda barks.”
User2871238592936 wrote: “When he’s deaf and barking… my thoughts are he feels the vibration of his growls and barks. So nice that you have a beautiful dog.” And Teecup said, “He has such a lively bark, sounds exactly the same every time.”
Another user, Julia, commented: “Mine is deaf too and has a great voice.” And Nicool added: “My dal makes that little noise before he barks too! We call them his Roo Roos! Ugh and those cheeks, so pretty!” And BBHEALTHFITNESS said, “I love talking dogs.” Kristanna added, “the heart boop snoop.”
Newsweek reached out to Blus_clues8 for comment on TikTok. We have not been able to verify the details of the case.
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