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I find this fascinating. Dogs clearly have an amazing gift that is overlooked. I'd much rather let a dog sniff me than endure another colonoscopy
Mary Beth
Dogs sniff out colon cancer
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Dogs sniff out colon cancer
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/pets/pawpr ... r/141221/1
I find this fascinating. Dogs clearly have an amazing gift that is overlooked. I'd much rather let a dog sniff me than endure another colonoscopy
Mary Beth
I find this fascinating. Dogs clearly have an amazing gift that is overlooked. I'd much rather let a dog sniff me than endure another colonoscopy
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
. . . So that's what dogs are doing. I always wondered why they sniff each others' butt, but I thought they were just being sociable. 
Seriously, that doesn't surprise me. I think that they can do just about anything they set their nose to do.
Tex
Seriously, that doesn't surprise me. I think that they can do just about anything they set their nose to do.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Mary Beth,
I also read this article this morning.
In mid-Jan a thread ran here titled GLUTEN SNIFFING DOG in which I contributed a piece there on George, the cancer sniffing dog in Florida.
George -- and his owner, trainer, handler were in fact the very first (the prototype if you will) investigators in trying to find out whether or not dogs could discriminate, and identify, an odor associated with cancer.
Of general interest here might be the fact that this whole issue began with a group of friends socializing over beer’s one evening. 3 of the women in the group happened to be nurses that worked with this dog trainers wife. The topic arose about how all cancer wards seemed to have a different odor than other wards in a hospital. Not a bad odor, just a different odor. All the nurse there agreed with this observation.
This conversation set this professional dog trainer to wondering if his dog – (in this case George) – who was already trained and functioning in scent discrimination for explosives detection, might be able to also identify a particular scent associated with cancers.
He decided to use skin melanoma as the subject as these melanoma malignancies of the skin are superficial, he could get specimens, and the dog would be able to have an opportunity to test any test-tube learned skills on real people. He set out upon this investigation with the assistance of a local Dermatologist, who was to say the least – very interested.
George proved to be very apt at identifying skin melanoma. He identified this particular neoplasm -- not only in the training set up, but also very professionally
on live human subjects in the Dermatologist’s office.
As I said in the earlier post, this research has now gone into laboratory where they are trying to identify the organic compound(s) that are the origin of the specific associated odor(s) which are identifiable to the canine olfactory system.
And now there is someone working this approach at cancer detection on this end!! Fascinating to watch and contemplate.
Gayle
I also read this article this morning.
In mid-Jan a thread ran here titled GLUTEN SNIFFING DOG in which I contributed a piece there on George, the cancer sniffing dog in Florida.
George -- and his owner, trainer, handler were in fact the very first (the prototype if you will) investigators in trying to find out whether or not dogs could discriminate, and identify, an odor associated with cancer.
Of general interest here might be the fact that this whole issue began with a group of friends socializing over beer’s one evening. 3 of the women in the group happened to be nurses that worked with this dog trainers wife. The topic arose about how all cancer wards seemed to have a different odor than other wards in a hospital. Not a bad odor, just a different odor. All the nurse there agreed with this observation.
This conversation set this professional dog trainer to wondering if his dog – (in this case George) – who was already trained and functioning in scent discrimination for explosives detection, might be able to also identify a particular scent associated with cancers.
He decided to use skin melanoma as the subject as these melanoma malignancies of the skin are superficial, he could get specimens, and the dog would be able to have an opportunity to test any test-tube learned skills on real people. He set out upon this investigation with the assistance of a local Dermatologist, who was to say the least – very interested.
George proved to be very apt at identifying skin melanoma. He identified this particular neoplasm -- not only in the training set up, but also very professionally
on live human subjects in the Dermatologist’s office. As I said in the earlier post, this research has now gone into laboratory where they are trying to identify the organic compound(s) that are the origin of the specific associated odor(s) which are identifiable to the canine olfactory system.
And now there is someone working this approach at cancer detection on this end!! Fascinating to watch and contemplate.
Gayle
Gayle,
Thanks for sharing! I find it fascinating too.
I can't help but think of how we complicate things with modern medicine sometimes. Diets vs drugs, dogs vs colonscopies . . . . I'm always drawn to simpler, less complicated approaches when I can and hope that someday medicine can start to recognize safer and simpler approaches.
Mary Beth
Thanks for sharing! I find it fascinating too.
I can't help but think of how we complicate things with modern medicine sometimes. Diets vs drugs, dogs vs colonscopies . . . . I'm always drawn to simpler, less complicated approaches when I can and hope that someday medicine can start to recognize safer and simpler approaches.
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
I hate be a party pooper, but as great as this idea is, it will never catch on, because your doctor is not going to use a dog as part of his or her testing procedure, to verify the presence of cancer. Why is that virtually guaranteed? Because Big Pharma, and medical science in general, has no interest in treating disease by means of canines, so like many great ideas, this one will die on the vine, due to lack of support by the moneyed interests in medicine. 
Note that the researchers are already trying to identify the organic compounds that the canine olfactory system responds to. They will use the procedure, if they can develop a technology which will cut the dog out of the picture, but they simply can't accept allowing a dog to make a diagnosis for them. It's an ego thing.
If they wanted to use the dogs, it wouldn't matter which organic compounds their olfactory senses respond to. Right?
Tex
Note that the researchers are already trying to identify the organic compounds that the canine olfactory system responds to. They will use the procedure, if they can develop a technology which will cut the dog out of the picture, but they simply can't accept allowing a dog to make a diagnosis for them. It's an ego thing.
If they wanted to use the dogs, it wouldn't matter which organic compounds their olfactory senses respond to. Right?Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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MaggieRedwings
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Couldn't agree with you more Tex and it is just such a shame. I live near Pharma alley which is located in PA and I am sure elsewhere and it is sickening to see the $$ spent when they could be going to much better efforts.
Love, Maggie
Love, Maggie
Maggie Scarpone
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Well I’ll have to be even a bigger “Party Pooper” if that’s the correct term here, by saying that it was of course early on recognized that it would NEVER BE POSSIBLE to train enough dogs to fulfill such a mission in any kind of medical practice. Trying to do that would be irrational thinking (for a whole bunch of reasons).
The point of working at this idea was to see if there was a definite odor that a dogs nose could identify in these neoplasms. Since that proved to be so -- that would mean that there is some kind of organic basis for such an odor – the question then becoming what is it.
This dog trainer has himself been very instrumental and involved in working with researchers in the laboratory setting to try to identify what this is. If that can be identified, it may in turn lead to improved, less invasive, methods of diagnosis??? This is the hope. Will it pan out? Who knows? This original work with George (and then subsequently a Golden Retriever that belonged to a friend of this trainer) was accomplished during the mid 90’s, and this project then went into laboratory research in the early 2000’s. There have been several subsequent attempts to show that the dog’s olfactory system can detect and discriminate for the associated odor with various neoplams. But to date the information they are looking for (what is the organic basis for the specific odor) has been elusive.
No --- they are not looking to employ dogs for such a service in medical practice.
And I would have to agree with Mary Beth -- there are many times and situations when I would 'trust the dog'!!
Gayle
The point of working at this idea was to see if there was a definite odor that a dogs nose could identify in these neoplasms. Since that proved to be so -- that would mean that there is some kind of organic basis for such an odor – the question then becoming what is it.
This dog trainer has himself been very instrumental and involved in working with researchers in the laboratory setting to try to identify what this is. If that can be identified, it may in turn lead to improved, less invasive, methods of diagnosis??? This is the hope. Will it pan out? Who knows? This original work with George (and then subsequently a Golden Retriever that belonged to a friend of this trainer) was accomplished during the mid 90’s, and this project then went into laboratory research in the early 2000’s. There have been several subsequent attempts to show that the dog’s olfactory system can detect and discriminate for the associated odor with various neoplams. But to date the information they are looking for (what is the organic basis for the specific odor) has been elusive.
No --- they are not looking to employ dogs for such a service in medical practice.
And I would have to agree with Mary Beth -- there are many times and situations when I would 'trust the dog'!!
Gayle
Well I never envisioned breath/butt sniffing dogs in doctor's offices . . .maybe more like the scanner Bones used on Star Trek My point is that sometimes we don't see the forest for the trees. Clearly the dogs are on to something here yet we look in every other direction for answers.
Mary Beth
My point is that sometimes we don't see the forest for the trees. Clearly the dogs are on to something here yet we look in every other direction for answers. Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
The problem lies in the way that the human brain has evolved. We are vision-centric, whereas most other animals are olfactory-centric. In the wild, many/most animals detect the presence of food, danger, sex, etc., by smell first, and they confirm their impression by vision, sound, touch, etc. Humans, on the other hand, rely on vision for our primary sensory input, and when there is a question, we confirm by touch, sound, odor, etc., usually in that order of significance. Since we are not odor-centric, we are not even capable of thinking in the terms necessary, to allow us to develop sophisticated odor-detection methodology, so they are probably wasting their time and money, trying to figure out what that dog is actually smelling.
This wasn't always the case. Our ancient ancestors were just as adapt at using olfactory perceptions as any of the other higher animals, but apparently that capability was lost eons ago. The reason why I'm sure that we once had the ability, is because odor is probably the strongest link that we have with our earliest memories in life. If we think back to our first few years of life, we may not be able to accurately visualize some of those scenes in minute detail, but there will always be one or more key odors associated with most vivid memories, that we can recall more accurately than the visual details of the event. IOW, the odor is imprinted more indelibly in our memory, than the visual aspects of the memory. At least, that's true for me, and I'll bet I'm not alone.
Tex
This wasn't always the case. Our ancient ancestors were just as adapt at using olfactory perceptions as any of the other higher animals, but apparently that capability was lost eons ago. The reason why I'm sure that we once had the ability, is because odor is probably the strongest link that we have with our earliest memories in life. If we think back to our first few years of life, we may not be able to accurately visualize some of those scenes in minute detail, but there will always be one or more key odors associated with most vivid memories, that we can recall more accurately than the visual details of the event. IOW, the odor is imprinted more indelibly in our memory, than the visual aspects of the memory. At least, that's true for me, and I'll bet I'm not alone.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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MBombardier
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- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:44 am
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Mary Beth, thanks for this article and the link to it. Part of my job is for a kennel where one of the things I do is post unusual pet or animal stories on a blog. Properly cited and all that. 
I already posted the one on the gluten-sniffing dog.
Gayle, I looked around the site you posted when you talked about George on the gluten-sniffing dog thread, but I couldn't find a good photo of him. Do you know where else I could look so I can talk about him on the kennel blog?
Also, if anyone else knows of or has personally any unusual animal stories (of any kind) I would really love to have them.
I already posted the one on the gluten-sniffing dog. Gayle, I looked around the site you posted when you talked about George on the gluten-sniffing dog thread, but I couldn't find a good photo of him. Do you know where else I could look so I can talk about him on the kennel blog?
Also, if anyone else knows of or has personally any unusual animal stories (of any kind) I would really love to have them.
Marliss Bombardier
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
Hi Marliss
Yup, my mother's dog (a westies) "sings"...... But only to romantic, orchestral music or grand opera. He accompanies the music with a series of pitched howls. He likes Wagner and Mahler best (so quite heavy). He ignores chamber music and any sort of pop music.
I think he thinks that inside those speakers is a forest full of very sophisticated wolves he needs to get in touch with......
:dogrun:
Best, ant
Yup, my mother's dog (a westies) "sings"...... But only to romantic, orchestral music or grand opera. He accompanies the music with a series of pitched howls. He likes Wagner and Mahler best (so quite heavy). He ignores chamber music and any sort of pop music.
I think he thinks that inside those speakers is a forest full of very sophisticated wolves he needs to get in touch with......
:dogrun: Best, ant
----------------------------------------
"Softly, softly catchee monkey".....
"Softly, softly catchee monkey".....
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MBombardier
- Rockhopper Penguin
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- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:44 am
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Marliss said
George was very well known around the country in his time ... appearing on the major network morning shows etc. He was, in short, a well traveled and very busy boy. The cancer detection work became however, his major claim to fame.
Right now I am not at home in Minnesota where I think I might still have some records regarding a write up I collaberated on about George, and also do have access to some of the Breed Club's publications where I would be able to dig up some information for you about this dog's exploits -- but that will be in the spring. So if you might still be interested then???
What is your "kennel blog" about?? Its URL?
Gayle
Gosh, right off the bat here, I do not know where else you might find information on George (and his handler) right now. Sorry about that! George crossed the Rainbow Bridge about 10 years ago now, so it's been quite a while since I have spoken with the owner/handler.Gayle, I looked around the site you posted when you talked about George on the gluten-sniffing dog thread, but I couldn't find a good photo of him. Do you know where else I could look so I can talk about him on the kennel blog?
George was very well known around the country in his time ... appearing on the major network morning shows etc. He was, in short, a well traveled and very busy boy. The cancer detection work became however, his major claim to fame.
Right now I am not at home in Minnesota where I think I might still have some records regarding a write up I collaberated on about George, and also do have access to some of the Breed Club's publications where I would be able to dig up some information for you about this dog's exploits -- but that will be in the spring. So if you might still be interested then???
What is your "kennel blog" about?? Its URL?
Gayle