Hi everybody I've just read an interesting snippet in the paper about Americans starting to use dogs for the detection of Cancer and it brought to mind a couple of experiences.

About a year ago we took our male to a show he is normally rock solid but when the judge wanted to go over him he played up big time and many of the dogs in the ring were backing off the judge. Just after the event we were told the judge was being treated for cancer. Prior to this our pet bitch was taken to visit relatives she is a big softie and made a great fuss of everybody until one of my aunties walked in she barked and growled that much at her she had to be taken outside unknown to us the aunt was diagnosed with Breast Cancer 4 months previously and later we lost her.

In the article I read it says a pet tried to bite of a mole on someones leg that was later removed for being cancerous and also the Americans have had 85% success so far at diagnosing Lung cancer by just letting dogs within breathing distance of the patient and judging their reactions.

I find this fascinating yet another thing our furry friends can help with. I was just wondering if anyone else had any similar experiences.

My Aunt who lives in the same small town as my mum has seen their puppy every day since they've had her without any problems until 3 mths ago. She went round to my mums for a meal and the dog created a real fuss and kept growling and barking - in the end my mum put her in her crate in the conservatory.

The next day my Aunt told my mum that her bladder cancer had returned and that she wasn't going to have any treatment as it was too far advanced.

We always thought that Ebony was just having a funny turn but maybe she wasn't?

Very bizarre,

Fiona
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Those crazy Americans! What will they ever think up next??? :rolleyes: ;) :D :D :D

Dogs Being Trained To Detect Cancer

My father has prostate and advanced bone cancer. It was diagnosed just over 3 years ago but I can't say I noticed any different behaviour from his own dog who only died in January this year or from my dog who died last year or my rescue dog that I got last year.
It certainly does sound as though there's usually some aura the dogs pick up on.
Dot

There is someone in Canada training Norwegian elkhounds as seizure alert dogs. Choice of breed I think is due to the fact that they have an excellent nose, are people oriented, bvut not panicky, so not likely to freak out, attack a person actually having a fit.

I think that a Guarding breed might get overprotective (not allow someone to help the patient) and something like a sensitive collie might get too stressed. On the other hand maybe it is pure accident that the people training for this have Elkhounds????

I've been following reports of dogs being used to detect epilepsy seizures before they begin for quite sometime. It does tend to be rare and not necessarily breed specific. If Elkies have a trait for it, that's great!!! :d :D The dog has to be more sensitive than others, apparently. I've read where mutts and purebreds both were found to have the 'gift'.

There is one young boy at the school where I work who has a small Rough Collie as his service dog. (Yes, she wears the official vest) He suffers from severe grand mal seizures, but they can be sometimes controlled by meds worn on his arm. If she nudges him, he "injects" the medicine. Sometimes when the meds aren't working, she will put her nose on his waist. That's his signal to sit down. She will lay quietly next to him until it's over. She will alert nearby adults also. (barking)

She's a sweet little thing. It's very difficult to ignore her when she puts her nose in my hand :rolleyes: But I manage to :) She did it again on Monday when I said hi to him.
His parents adore her because she gives their son the best chance to have a fairly normal life. He was in a gym class that I subbed in last year. She just lay there quietly as basket balls were chaotically landing all around her. Amazing dog.