Apparently, dogs can sniff out cancer !

Hi there, Actually, I have heard of this before, I may have even seen it prior to 2004. Dogs are indeed being used for many many different things nowadays. Here in North America, we have been using various breeds of dogs as human helpers for many years. Most people are now aware that a dog can be trained to assist a blind person with navigation, but, even that is a relatively new phenomenon within the last 50 or so years. This is a topic I feel very passionately about, as I myself and physically disabled and have what they call a Special Skills Dog, here in Canada. My dog Zena, a yellow labrador retriever, is trained to provide physical assistance to me because I use a wheelchair. Zena is trained to pick up items I drop, bark for help, call for help, assist with dressing and assist with transfers, among many other "tricks". Zena's school currently has four programs available; Seeing eye dogs, for the blind or visually impaired, hearing ear dogs, for the deaf or hard of hearing, used to help alert us humans to a fire alarm, or a baby crying, and finally seizure alert dogs for those who have frequent seizures. Those are just the programs available at her particular school. They are now considering using therapy dogs or skills dogs to assist those with autism or other medical disorders as well as for law enforcement, bombs sniffing, and yes even Cancer. Although I realize that this is not related to your discussion, just as a general side note, you may find it interesting but they are considering using miniature ponies as dog guides in the future as they have triple the life span of a dog. They are finding that one particular breed (that I can't seem to remember the name of) is particularly good at the same tasks as current guide dogs. For us, the positive is that they have three times the life span and thus have a longer working life, the downside is I'm now working with the horse instead of a dog. Definitely some food for thought! Great discussion and happy Mylotting!

Isn't that amazing?! I saw a show on this very thing a couple of years back. Certain dogs have even better talents at this than others. It is astounding how such things as this can be. Life has alot of mysteries and miracles.

I had heard about this some time ago. they have been doing research to find out if dogs can really detect cancers. It does look promising and a better way than having to have surgery to find out if something is cancerous. Dogs are really remarkable animals.

Yup dogs can tell about you alot just if they could talk to you and tell you that you are sick even tho ya dont know it. This would be a good way to catch it faster so it can be treated faster!. If ya have a dog that stays close to you watch what he does if something is wrong the dog willl start acting different .but as they can tell ya you might think its them hurting or something but it just might be something wrong with you. I have seen on paces where a dog made a women get up and use a phone to get help. She was haveing a heart attack and the dog told her. Just dont know how the dog got it across to her that something was wrong with her.

Hi marina321, That is amazing, its just show what dogs can do if trained and it would be a lot quicker then waiting for the results to come through from the lab. Tamara

Hello, I think it is the habit of human being that inclined the researchers to think about the other uses of the excellent smelling habits of dog.You will astonish to know it that dogs can not only smells for the cancer but they can also detects the diabetic traits,can warn you about about the occurrence of the heart attacks.There are various new things around us that we do not know.The civilization in ancient time used there common sense & ability to percepts to invent different things which we are using at present for different purposes.

As far as I know the best current method to detect cancer is PET (positron emision tomography) but it requires of an expensive equipment. Here in Uruguay, nowadays, there is no PET exam affordable. You must travel to Argentina or to Brazil to have it done.

It doesn't surprise me at all that animals can sniff out illnesses in humans. Not only dogs do that but CATS can do it also! I had two moles on my neck, one on each side and one mole was black and round and the other was flesh color and shaped sort of longish, well when ever I held my black and white cat (Baby), he would sniff the black mole, with no reaction, then when he sniffed the other mole he would always stop, sniff it some more then look deep into my eyes for a few seconds before snuggling in my arms for a nap. Baby did this every single time I held him, even licking the flesh colored mole and at times trying to nibble at it as though he was trying to get it off of me. Well one day as I was having my yearly pap test, I showed my moles to my doctor. He wasn't at all concerned with the black mole but was highly concerned with the flesh colored mole and said he wanted to remove it as soon as possible and have it tested. Well it was tested and the results came back as possible cancer cells, (suspicious cell devision)! Later I was checked for cancer and thank god I didn't have it! I think my cat knew that something was going on with that mole and was trying to warn me! By the way, about a year ago, every time my mother who is 76 held my cat, he would sniff my mother's left eye then stare deep into her eyes before getting comfortable. It turned out she was starting to get (Glacoma) and her LEFT eye was the worst! I tried to tell my doctors about (Baby) and how he seems to know about things but they just look at me like I am crazy, so I shut up!

I never heard about the urine, bur I heard about them smelling the area where the cancer is and indicating that way. We, as humans, underestimate all animals, not just dogs, regularly.

really cool. I wonder if now they find a way to train other dogs or maybe other animals for that purpose. Now those people that think animals are useless or worthless, will get a big punch in the eye!

That's indeed something new to me.. lol =D If a dog can do the job, then why do we need technologies and even doctors?? lol =D Though a dog can sniff out cancer, but how are we supposed to know from them?? They cant talk, and so what's the point?? SO even i have a dog at home, but i cant be sure because all they do is bark and bark.. lol =D UNless, we humans have to be trained in order to understand what they are barking for?? lol =D

I have heard many stories about the incredible sniffing powers of dogs and cats - including a recent story of a cat in a nursing home who apparently 'told' the staff when a patient was going to die. It was very creepy - the cat would choose to spend the day on the person's bed. There are also the cadaver dogs, who assist police in finding the bodies of murder victims, or to help find bodies underneath rubble after explosions or landslides. Dogs are amazing.

Wow this is very informative. I have never heard of such a thing. I think that it is really great and hopefully it will save a lot of lives. Marina321 I do think dogs do talk we might not understand. LOL

This is really intersting. It reminds me that, some years ago I had a fungal infection under my right thumbnail. My dog at the time was forever trying to lick it better. It was very hard to get rid of and came and went for years. Finally after a new prescription from my doc, it started a growth which turned out to be malignant and was removed. I wonder if my dog sensed this all that time before.

Yup, I do remember reading this before. Isn't it exciting what a pooch can do with his/her nose? This is a job they will love too, considering the fact that they are fond of sniffing at urine and poop. :) Cheers and happy Mylotting

Hi! I have seen it in Animal Planet show a few years ago. Yeah, maybe back in 2004. If I remember it right the show even had samples of a cancer cell in a cup and cells that are healthy and the dog sniffed the cell that is carcinogen. Several they did it and the dog never failed. It was also shown that dogs can sense if a diabetic person are low of insulin and would have an attack or seizure. It's really pretty amazing and indeed a dog is man's best friend! Not only because they can help in curing the sick but they give unconditional love. That's why I am a dog lover myself. Ciao!

It is really a great thing that dogs can detect the patients who are suffering from cancer. It leads to dog's another symbol of being a man's best friend. Keep up the good work dogs.

Yes that´s amazing how these little animals can help human beings and sometimes are treated so bad for the ones they help. I know dogs can make a lot to humans, maybe even more than humans can make to dogs.