Dogs have a better sense of smell than humans, and some breeds are better at smelling things than others. They can sniff out certain illnesses in humans, which can be vital to saving a life or treating a disease. Dogs can alert doctors to illnesses before they really begin to affect our bodies, which is important during the early stages of life-threatening illnesses.
Signs Your Dog Can Smell an Illness
There are dogs trained to specifically smell out diseases in humans. They are trained to react in a specific way to alert their handlers. However, even untrained dogs can sniff out or sense when their owners are sick. They can smell volatile organic compounds associated with cancer, drops in blood sugar during a diabetic episode, or the hormones released before a seizure or migraine. Dogs may pay more attention to certain parts of their owner’s body or act differently when their owner is sick.
Body Language
If your dog smells an illness, watch for signs such as staring, alertness, barking, whining, sniffing, whimpering, and licking. Other signs that your dog is trying to tell you that you are sick include excessive licking, staring or sniffing one part of your body, random whimpering or crying, acting clingy, generalized anxious behavior, and acting differently than normal.
The History Behind Dogs Smelling Illnesses in Humans
Dogs evolved from wolves over 10,000 years ago and still retain many wolf-like traits and abilities. Their sense of smell evolved to become super strong to help them track down their food. Dogs have been used as medical service animals for a long time to detect blood pressure drops or seizure-inducing chemicals in their owners. These service animals can alert their owners before an episode occurs.
The Science Behind a Dog’s Sense of Smell
A dog’s sense of smell is upwards of 50 times better than humans’. Dogs have many more receptor sites in their noses, allowing them to smell things that humans can’t. Studies have shown that dogs can detect cancer based on breath samples with high accuracy, sometimes even better than human medical tests. Owners have reported that their dogs acted differently around them when they had an illness, and many of these reports turned out to be cancerous or had other issues.
Training Your Dog to Smell Disease
There are programs that train dogs to be service animals specifically for sniffing out diseases and illnesses. If you’re interested in getting your dog into one of these programs or getting a dog to help with a chronic illness, it’s helpful to check them out. Training a dog to smell disease is more about training the owner to recognize changes in their dog’s behavior and body language. Dogs communicate their owner’s sickness through their behavior, so it’s important for owners to know how their dogs act when they’re uncomfortable.
“Your dog’s nose knows: How our furry friends can sniff out illness”
Tips & Things to Know
1️⃣ Pay attention to your dog’s behavior and body language: If your dog starts acting differently, such as sniffing or licking a specific area of your body, or showing signs of anxiety or clinginess, it may be a sign that something is wrong with your health. Take note of any unusual behavior and consult a doctor if necessary.
2️⃣ Understand the signs that your dog may be detecting an illness: Look out for signs like excessive licking, staring or sniffing one part of your body, random whimpering or crying, and general anxious behavior. These could be indications that your dog senses something is not right with your health.
3️⃣ Be aware of the incredible sense of smell dogs possess: Dogs have a sense of smell that is much more powerful than humans, with up to 200 to 300 million receptor sites compared to our 6 million. They can detect changes in body chemistry associated with illnesses, including cancer and drops in blood sugar. Recognize that dogs have the ability to sniff out diseases and consider their observations when it comes to your health.
Frequently Asked Questions, Answered ✅
1. Can dogs really smell illnesses in humans?
Yes, studies have shown that dogs can detect certain illnesses in humans by smelling changes in body chemistry.
2. How do dogs alert us to illnesses?
Dogs are trained to react in a specific way with their handler to alert them when they smell a specific scent associated with an illness. Untrained dogs may exhibit different behaviors, such as paying more attention to certain body parts or acting anxious.
3. What signs should I look for in my dog if they smell an illness?
Signs to watch for include staring, alertness, barking, whining, sniffing, whimpering, and excessive licking.
4. How did dogs evolve to have such a strong sense of smell?
Dogs evolved from wolves over 10,000 years ago, and their sense of smell became stronger to help them track down prey when hunting for food.
5. Can dogs be trained to specifically smell diseases and illnesses?
Yes, there are programs that train dogs to be service animals specifically trained to sniff out diseases and illnesses. However, even untrained dogs may exhibit behaviors that indicate they sense something is wrong with their owner’s health.
