Can Dogs Smell Cancer?

Therefore, another fascinating characteristic for dogs is their ability to smell.  Dogs have a hyper capacity to track a scent. No environment for this behavior is expressed more abundantly than while on open walks. This behavioral instinct is not by accident.  The instinct for dogs to sniff is natural; however, it is also an expression of the species basic need.  For dogs, I believe, this comes down to created purpose.

Incredible studies indicate that man’s best friend can sniff out cancer. New research out of Italy has found that dogs can actually detect prostate cancer with an astounding 98% accuracy rate. That is more accurate than some of the most advanced lab procedures and screening tests.

Dogs have been shown throughout history with search and rescue, bomb detection, and now with cancer, tremendous results. There is certainly not enough research, but the research that is out there is promising. So, the research concludes, if dogs are able to correlate smells to cancer then it must be true. Especially, if dogs are detecting it; smells associated with disease has been going on since the beginning, dating back to Chinese medicine. There are certain smells associated with specific diseases. We understand this with diabetes, other diseases, including later stage cancers, there is an odor that is detectable by humans in latter stages (Dina Zaphiris: Malibu’s Dog Trainer to the Stars).

The fact that there is an odor attached to the latter stages of cancer may provide researchers with further direction on how to attack cancer and may be even illuminate cancer. The fact that the largest Urology departments in the country are talking about this study is remarkable. It may be an indication, that we who are in cancer research need to think about cancer differently and start taking a closer look at these volatile compounds, for instance in how we conduct screening tests (Dr. Marty Makary; Prof of Public Health at Johns Hopkins).

Using positive stimulation where dogs are trained to lay down when detecting the disease has had a 40% - 90% accuracy rate. A specific combination of odors, dogs have sniffed out diseases such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, colon & bladder cancer, diet, smoking, alcohol and melanoma have already being utilized in the medical, search & rescue, and law enforcement industries.

Thinking creatively entails bolstering our understanding that dogs have five times the number of sensory cells in their noses than humans may be an indication that researchers should consider airborne  particles in urine samples and/or Breathalyzer tests (Dr. Marty Makary; Prof of Public Health at Johns Hopkins).

We can discover cancer in the most bazaar ways.

Where false positives in screening tests are concerned, dogs have shown to not only have tremendous olfactory sensitivity, but specificity; which is incredible. This means, not only can dogs tell us that cancer is present with a higher percentage of accuracy, but dogs can even tell us when cancer is not present. 

Research dogs are trained to ignore healthy samples; they are also trained to ignore disease controls.  Other diseases that may have common odors with cancer, therefore, not only are the research dogs highly scientifically trained, but – across the board, they are giving researchers low false positives. These screening tests are completely non-invasive. We can train dogs to detect on urine samples, breath samples, and simple plasma samples.  These are again, non-invasive, low cost, highly accurate methods for early detection and screening for most cancers that don’t have screening methods today (Dina Zaphiris: Malibu’s Dog Trainer to the Stars).

The Doctors

The scientific fact is that dogs are helping us detect cancers before they can become too serious to be treated within an individual. Which I declare, is one additional reason to love All Good Dogs.

I welcome any thoughts you may have on this topic.

Hello Breed, Who Are You?

Dog owners may not all see eye to eye when walking or hiking a pet out on the open trail. Throughout the years, I have raised many eyebrows, telling stories about how my dogs and I have discovered our world, venturing out on an ever changing four-season environment. The risks involved out there are always a challenge for us, from the weather, to wildlife, to other dogs, and to people, even other dog owners.

For instance, many pet owners do not fathom allowing their dog to walk off-leash while hiking out on an open trail. For me, I believe it is important to teach my dogs to be somewhat independent and responsible while walking with me. That being said, let me be clear, I think there are absolute environments where dog’s on-leash is unarguably appropriate, no questions asked; as in public environments (unlike; my previous video blog - posted last week).

But out on the open trail, as loving dog owners, we have learned how much better it is for us to acquaint ourselves to our dogs breed by allowing them room to discover who they are in relation to the world and our personal relationship to them, by using verbal commands, vocal tone, and physical gestures; like pointing directions. Now I do understand that my opinion on this view may not be widely supported or encouraged by some. See: (http://www.allgoodogs.com/dl2_html/index.html).

But utilizing common sense and understanding for knowing ourselves first, and then understanding the relationship we have to our pets is an ever evolving process for both the pet and the human being.  This means learning proper skills of pack leadership in relationship to the animal and developing mutual trust is a must.

Learning to trust ourselves requires honest insight, but trusting an animal that is born with a natural sense of limited intelligence, the need to explore, and plain old fashion curiosity can be the dog owner’s greatest challenge. Dogs are led by their muzzles; they have no boundaries for exploring their senses while out on a trail; especially when discovering an ever rejuvenating earthly environment. My canine’s greatest sense of motivation comes from a natural instinct they have to work, to hunt and to herd; simply put it is fun to watch them learn something new about themselves every day.

Like every living creature, the need to feel protected within our pack environment is of foremost priority to me and dogs are no different.  I am learning more about my dogs breed by walking them off-leash out on the trail. Observing how they respond to outdoor stimuli and to the sound of my voice is both enlightening and fascinating lesson on how we are all connected through life.

(More on this topic in my next blog post)

Dog Steal Players' Gloves During Softball Game