Scheifele Peter, Martin Doug, Clark John Greer, Kemper Debra, Wells Jennifer
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
Am J Vet Res. 2012 Apr;73(4):482-9. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.73.4.482.
To evaluate the degree of noise to which kenneled dogs were exposed in 2 typical kennels and to determine whether a measurable change in hearing might have developed as a result of exposure to this noise.
14 dogs temporarily housed in 2 kennel environments.
Noise levels were measured for a 6-month period in one environment (veterinary technical college kennel) and for 3 months in another (animal shelter). Auditory brainstem response testing was performed on dogs in the veterinary kennel 48 hours and 3 and 6 months after arrival. Temporal changes in the lowest detectable response levels for wave V were analyzed.
Acoustic analysis of the kennel environments revealed equivalent sound level values ranging between 100 and 108 dB sound pressure level for the 2 kennels. At the end of 6 months, all 14 dogs that underwent hearing tests had a measured change in hearing.
Results of the noise assessments indicated levels that are damaging to the human auditory system. Such levels could be considered dangerous for kenneled dogs as well, particularly given the demonstrated hearing loss in dogs housed in the veterinary kennel for a prolonged period. Noise abatement strategies should be a standard part of kennel design and operation when such kennels are intended for long-term housing of dogs.
评估2个典型犬舍中犬只所接触的噪音程度，并确定接触该噪音是否可能导致听力出现可测量的变化。
14只临时饲养在2种犬舍环境中的犬只。
在一个环境（兽医技术学院犬舍）中测量6个月的噪音水平，在另一个环境（动物收容所）中测量3个月的噪音水平。对安置在兽医犬舍的犬只在到达后48小时、3个月和6个月进行听觉脑干反应测试。分析V波最低可检测反应水平的时间变化。
犬舍环境的声学分析显示，2个犬舍的等效声级值在100至108分贝声压级之间。6个月末，所有接受听力测试的14只犬只的听力均有测量到的变化。
噪音评估结果表明噪音水平对人类听觉系统有损害。这样的水平对犬舍中的犬只也可能是危险的，特别是考虑到长期安置在兽医犬舍中的犬只出现了听力损失。当此类犬舍用于犬只的长期饲养时，降噪策略应成为犬舍设计和运营的标准组成部分。
