ARISTOPERROS have a sense of smell between 10,000 and 100,000 times better than ours. In fact, they are estimated to have between 200 and 300 million olfactory receptors. Therefore, smell is dogs’ primary sense.
When a dog concentrates on a smell, it focuses all its attention on it to gather as much information as possible. That is why dogs are excellent trackers and have become an essential aid for certain professional groups (firefighters, police officers…), as well as in situations where a disaster has occurred (floods, earthquakes…). A dog can follow a trail and isolate one smell among others. This enables them to track drugs, explosives, and gas leaks; find survivors under rubble, in water, and in mud… and, for some time now, also detect diseases.
According to studies published by DVM News Magazine, a group of researchers has demonstrated that, through their sense of smell, some trained dogs were able to identify prostate cancer in human urine. It has also been shown that they are a great help in recognizing when a patient is about to have a hypoglycemic attack (a drop in blood sugar), even before the patient realizes it.
The latest case, which amazed us and which we felt was worth sharing with all of you, is CancerDogs. An experimental project that trains beagles to detect cases of cancer in different fire departments.
Why firefighters?
Basically because firefighters have higher cancer rates than the general population, as they are exposed daily to chemicals from the flames and smoke of the fires they try to put out.
The group of beagles, five in total, began training in Canada in 2010, according to CancerDogs president Glenn Ferguson. A year later, they began the experimental phase, which they are still in today, with the detection tests.
How is cancer detection carried out with dogs?
The firefighters breathe through a special surgical mask for ten minutes, allowing it to become impregnated with their breath. The dogs then sniff each sample and, if two or more detect a positive result, the sample in question undergoes a second test in the same way. If the result is confirmed in this second test, the person concerned is informed so they can send another sample, and if it tests positive again, the center recommends that the possible patient visit a specialist.
Most of the cancers detected by the dogs were skin cancers, although a couple also involved vital organs. The department of the city in northern Texas requested 450 detection kits for its firefighters and family members who wished to undergo the tests; ultimately, 10 people were found to have cancer at an early stage.
The tests are highly competitive in terms of price, but also in terms of speed. As a result, thirty other fire departments have taken part in this project over the past five years, including those in Dallas, Denton, Arlington, San Marcos, and San Antonio.
It is undoubtedly a commendable initiative that can help both prevent illness and save many lives. And it shows, once again, that ARISTOPERROS are not only our best friends but also, on many occasions, our guardian angels.