QUESTION: My older cat, Jeff, seems to be losing his hearing. Is there anything to reverse hearing loss in older pets? His regular veterinarian said we would just have to live with this."ANSWER: I get this question a lot. Hearing loss in older cats and dogs does occur as a normal part of aging in some pets, similar to the situation in some older people.The cells of the inner ear start to degenerate and sound transmission via the auditory nerves decreases. A special test called a brain-evoked auditory response test can be performed to confirm deafness, but in most cases, simply observing the pet's response to various noises is enough for owners and veterinarians to determine if hearing loss is present.Having said all that, I would first make sure that Jeff does not have any diseases of the external ear. If his ear canals are full of debris, simply cleaning the ears (while the pet is under anesthesia) will restore his hearing.If his ears appear normal on physical examination, there is one other possibility. Some older pets with cognitive disorder will show hearing loss as one of their signs. Supplying these pets with choline (I use Cholodin) and antioxidants (I like Proanthozone) can help these pets. Otherwise it may be that Jeff's hearing loss is simply related to aging. There are hearing aids for pets, but most owners choose to live with (and keep inside) pets with hearing loss.

QUESTION: I've tried using glucosamine and chondroitin for my older Labrador, Sam. However, his arthritis is getting worse and the supplements don't seem to be helping. Since I don't want to give him medications, do you have any other suggestions?ANSWER: While glucosamine and chondroitin work in most arthritic pets, some pets don't respond as well as others. Hyaluronan is another natural joint supplement, which is often used to help pets with arthritis. It is so effective that I often use it when other joint supplements fail.Hyaluronan reduces swelling at the site of injury by decreasing white blood cell migration and infiltration into the affected tissue. Hyaluronan inhibits the inflammation pathway, resulting in decreased pain.There are two hyaluronan products commercially available, which are very helpful in treating pets with arthritis: Cholodin Flex, a chewable treat for dogs and cats, which also contains choline to decrease the chances of the pet developing cognitive disorder; and Chologel, a potent gel form, which should only be given to dogs. These two have been shown as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug medications without the side effects often seen with this class of drugs.I suggest you talk with Sam's doctor about trying either of these supplements, possibly with homeopathic (Zeel) or herbal (Flex SC, Nutriflex) support.Address questions to Dr. Shawn Messonnier at Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, 2145 W. Park, Plano TX, 75075 or naturalvet@juno.com. Visit him at www.petcarenaturally.com and listen to his show, "The Natural Vet," on Martha Stewart Radio, Sirius channel 112, Tuesday at 7 p.m. CST.By KRT News Service