Hearing is a primary sensory pathway in companion animals, fundamental to environmental awareness, communication, behavioural regulation and the human-animal bond. Despite its clinical significance, auditory health remains among the least routinely assessed wellness parameters in companion animal practice. Standard wellness examinations typically include vision, dental, cardiac and musculoskeletal assessment, but no systematic hearing evaluation is widely adopted as a routine component of preventive care.

Age-related hearing loss progresses gradually and is frequently attributed by owners and clinicians to behavioural changes such as disobedience, reduced responsiveness, increased anxiety, or apparent cognitive decline. This misattribution delays appropriate clinical response and denies animals the adaptational support that early identification enables.