In an earlier post, (Dogs Predict Cancer...and See Dead People?) I discussed the abilities of dogs to detect cancer in humans. In that article, I focused more on untrained pets who alerted their owners, inciting them to get tested and subsequent treatment.
In Oxfordshire, England, a rescue puppy names Casper is being trained to detect human cancer as his job. Continually passed over by families due to his inexhaustible energy, Casper makes an ideal candidate for medical screening. High energy dogs due best when they are routinely assigned complex tasks, which provide mental stimulation and a healthy outlet for all that energy.
This cute spaniel is being trained using urine samples from humans. Cancer cells are known to produce chemical compounds, which are present in an afflicted human's urine and are thought to emit odors. An 'electronic nose' exists and is used for testing purposes, but is not nearly as effective as the natural scenting abilities possessed by a dog. Dogs live in a world influenced by the olfactory, with smells as unique and individual to a dog as colors are to humans.
Researchers say training like that which Casper is undergoing is very complex - and the outcome is akin to being able to smell one very subtle ingredient in a soup.
The goal of using dogs to detect cancer in human is to provide people with a non-invasive test resulting in earlier detection of cancers.
Dogs are used professionally to detect bombs, drugs, missing persons, dangerous mold in buildings and even agricultural pests! Auburn University professor, Larry Myers believes that with proper training, most any dog can be trained to detect any unique scent. With continued research by dedicated experts, we can hope to see dogs continue to be further integrated into the fabric of contemporary society - providing dogs the opportunities to use their unique skills to help humans, as man's best friend has already done for centuries.
For more information, please visit www.cancerdogs.co.uk
In Oxfordshire, England, a rescue puppy names Casper is being trained to detect human cancer as his job. Continually passed over by families due to his inexhaustible energy, Casper makes an ideal candidate for medical screening. High energy dogs due best when they are routinely assigned complex tasks, which provide mental stimulation and a healthy outlet for all that energy.
This cute spaniel is being trained using urine samples from humans. Cancer cells are known to produce chemical compounds, which are present in an afflicted human's urine and are thought to emit odors. An 'electronic nose' exists and is used for testing purposes, but is not nearly as effective as the natural scenting abilities possessed by a dog. Dogs live in a world influenced by the olfactory, with smells as unique and individual to a dog as colors are to humans.
Researchers say training like that which Casper is undergoing is very complex - and the outcome is akin to being able to smell one very subtle ingredient in a soup.
The goal of using dogs to detect cancer in human is to provide people with a non-invasive test resulting in earlier detection of cancers.
Dogs are used professionally to detect bombs, drugs, missing persons, dangerous mold in buildings and even agricultural pests! Auburn University professor, Larry Myers believes that with proper training, most any dog can be trained to detect any unique scent. With continued research by dedicated experts, we can hope to see dogs continue to be further integrated into the fabric of contemporary society - providing dogs the opportunities to use their unique skills to help humans, as man's best friend has already done for centuries.For more information, please visit www.cancerdogs.co.uk
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