[Deafness and its diagnosis in dogs and cats]

The problem of inherited deafness in various breeds of dogs and cats catches more and more attention in concerned breeders and owners. This article presents an update in the current knowledge of prevalence, aetiology and genetics of sensorineural deafness and its differentiation against acquired forms of hearing disorders. An electrophysiological method (Auditory Evoked Potentials) to obtain an objective diagnosis of hearing disorders is presented. The usefulness of Auditory Evoked Potentials as an instrument for genetic investigations in inherited deafness is discussed.