How does a dog detect an illness?
Cancer causes metabolic changes in the body. These changes lead to abnormal or higher levels of metabolic products in the bloodstream, exhaled air, skin and excreta. Dogs are used to detect illnesses based on their ability to smell such changes.
Diagnostic dogs are trained to detect the scent profile of cancer; the urine of prostate and breast cancer patients is used for this. Research indicates that dogs can identify several cancers in addition to those they are trained to detect.
Diagnostic dogs are important in healthcare, cancer screening and the development of new technology. A dog can be trained to detect a range of illnesses.
Research confirms the effectiveness of diagnostic dogs
Research shows that dogs detect cancer based on its scent profile. A dog trainer must be able to interpret the dog’s actions and behaviour during assignments.