Animals and Your Health: Dogs as Disease Detectors

by Skye Schulte, MS, MPH

There is no question that dogs can provide companionship, protection, and other services. But could there be another use for our canine friends? Some anecdotal evidence and a sprinkling of scientific studies suggest that dogs can detect seizures and cancers (like skin melanoma and prostate cancer). Though a lot of research is still needed, early results have provided insight on developing new medical technologies.

Detecting Seizures

Though many anecdotal stories suggest dogs can alert their owners before a seizure, there has been little research on how dogs might detect seizures before they happen. Some theorize that the dogs may smell a chemical or other scent that is released just prior to a seizure. Others believe the dog’s attachment to his owner helps in detecting subtle scent and behavioral changes. Only a very small percentage of these service dogs are currently able to reliably warn their owners before a seizure. Some researchers have studied whether these skills could be taught.

Researchers in the United Kingdom found that the people using specially trained dogs actually reported fewer seizures. Though these results are promising, in most cases, it still seems that this skill is inherent in a dog’s personality, rather than something that can be taught. Future research may reveal what these dogs are detecting and how this information can be applied in the hospital setting.

There is no doubt that these dogs can alert help, help prevent injury, and watch over someone when they are having a seizure. However, the Epilepsy Foundation urges people to wait until research supports a specific training regimen.

Detecting Cancer TOP

There has also been anecdotal evidence of dogs being able to sniff out cancer and warn their owners. A brief report in the journal Lancet describes how one dog discovered a cancerous skin tumor on her owner’s leg. Researchers have been able to teach bomb-sniffing dogs how to detect cancer using similar training techniques. Other research supports the theory that dogs have the ability to smell cancer. But the real promise may be in learning how dogs can do this and possibly developing medical technology to do the same.

Looking Toward the Future TOP

Dogs may never be used in the doctor's office. However, studying how animals can detect diseases in humans could lead to future advancements in medicine and medical technology. For instance, by learning about the ways dogs “smell” a seizure or cancer cells, we can develop technologies to detect those same molecules. Medical “sniffing machines” have already been developed and are providing insight into the smells of disease for disease detection.


RESOURCES

The Epilepsy Foundation

http://www.efa.org/

The National Cancer Institute

http://www.nci.nih.gov/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Epilepsy Canada

http://www.epilepsy.ca/

Epilepsy Ontario

http://www.epilepsyontario.org/client/eo/eoweb.nsf/web/Home

References:

Brown SW, Strong V. The use of seizure-alert dogs. Seizure . 2001;10:39-41

Questions and Answers about seizure dogs. The Epilepsy Foundation website. Available at: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/epilepsyusa/seizuredogs.cfm . Published August 2002. Accessed April 14, 2010.

Strong V, Brown SW, Walker R. Seizure-alert dogs—fact or fiction? Seizure . 1999;8:62-65.

What about seizure dogs? Epilepsy Association of Central Florida website. Available at: http://www.epilepsy-cf.org/seizure_dogs.htm . Accessed June 14, 2008.

Williams H, Pembroke A. Sniffer dogs in the melanoma clinic? Lancet . 1989;1(8640):734.