As we all know, a dog’s nose is used for a lot of things: communicating with each other, tracking down the treat jar and finding their way home. But did you know that this very powerful sense of smell can be used for more than just tracking treats? Some of the latest cancer research has shown that many dogs can actually be trained to detect cancer and other potential health issues in people, even in their earliest stages.
While researchers continue to explore the diagnostic accuracy and potential of cancer sniffing dogs, we wanted to share a few examples of how specially trained dogs could save someone’s life or improve their quality of life through early diagnosis.
Can Dogs Smell Cancer?
Yes! Over the years, cancer research has shown that many dogs’ remarkable sense of smell gives them the ability to sniff out cancer. Most dogs have to undergo rigorous training with cancer samples, but the first published report detailed a dog who was able to detect cancer in his owner all by himself. A letter published in the respected medical journal Lancet in 1989 described how this dog was constantly sniffing a mole on his owner’s leg and even tried to bite it. The owner eventually became concerned herself, and a visit to her doctor confirmed the mole was a malignant melanoma (skin cancer).
Which Types of Cancer Can a Dog Smell?
Scientists believe that cancer-sniffing dogs can detect volatile chemicals that are released by malignant (cancerous) cells in the human body. It’s important to remember that only a doctor can actually diagnose cancer, but a highly trained medical detection dog can certainly help with early detection. And while our furry friends may not be able to tell the difference between specific cancer types, they are able to detect the presence of a myriad of different cancers, including:
- Lung cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Skin cancer
Our four-legged friends can also use their special sniffers to detect cancerous odors from urine samples, blood samples and even breath samples. And as we all know, when it comes to cancer diagnosis, early detection is essential for treatment and improving patient outcomes.
Can Untrained Dogs Smell Cancer?
When it comes to canine scent detection, most dogs require specific training in order to sniff cancer samples and accurately detect and respond to a dog handler when they smell cancer in humans. While most dogs don’t have a natural ability to sniff out cancer on their own, there have been a few personal accounts of dogs raising an owner’s awareness to the signs of potential health issues.
How Do Dogs Act When They Smell Cancer?
It often depends if the dog was trained and what cancer, disease or malady they have been trained to look for. Additionally, some dogs that aren’t trained to detect skin cancer and other malignant tumors have shown the ability to detect that something may be wrong. In some cases, dogs have been known to persistently lick, sniff or even nip at melanoma lesions on a patient’s skin. In other cases like breast cancer, some dogs have been seen pawing at a patient’s chest or repeatedly sniffing a specific area. In one case, a woman reported that her dachshund was repeatedly sniffing her armpit. Upon further examination, a lump was found, which led to an eventual breast cancer diagnosis.
Can Dogs Identify Other Health Issues?
In recent years, dogs have been used in a variety of different ways to help alert humans of potential health issues beyond just cancer detection. For example, our body uses glucose as its main energy source, and if glucose levels are too low (hypoglycemia) or too high (hyperglycemia) it can create a medical emergency for people with diabetes. Some people with diabetes have a tiny sensor under their skin that continuously monitors their glucose levels and alerts them if there’s an issue. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to a monitor like this.
Another option is a diabetic alert dog. These dogs are trained to detect a chemical change (odor) using olfactory detection and can alert their owner if their blood sugar level drops too low or spikes too high. That way their owner can act before it becomes an emergency. These diabetic alert dogs can help people with diabetes live a more independent lifestyle.
Gluten Detection
Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disorder that causes an immune response in the small intestine when people with the disease eat gluten (the protein in barley, rye and wheat). The immune system of people with celiac disease can destroy the lining of the small intestine, preventing the absorption of nutrients, which can lead to weight loss.
Gluten-detecting dogs can be trained to alert their owners if they are near a source of gluten. There are obvious sources of gluten (like bread, pizza and crackers), but gluten can also be in items like lip balm and toothpaste. Celiac service dogs can help their owners detect many of these not-so-obvious sources of gluten.
Can Dogs Be Used in Cancer Research?
Now that we know how powerful a dog’s nose can be, researchers have begun exploring sniffer dogs with a variety of different tests and samples to potentially detect various forms of cancer and disease. From urine and tissue samples to breath tests and more, medical detection dogs are being used to aid in the diagnosis of human cancers and disease unlike ever before. And while it may be expensive and time-consuming to train our new medical marvels, these specially trained dogs just might save someone’s life. And that’s a great use for a peculiar sniffing skill!
