A New Type of Service Dog

Dogs have been by law enforcement agencies for years to detect everything from bombs, drugs, chemicals used to start fires, find lost persons, search for live or deceased bodies trapped in landslides or other types of debris and even contraband fruits and vegetables. Now dogs may actually be able to sniff out when we are going to have a heart attack or suffer an epileptic seizure.

The olfactory or smelling ability of dogs, is legendary. A drug-sniffing dog only needs a miniscule amount of a specific chemical in order to detect its presence. This same ability has now been focused toward the saving of human lives. Clinical pharmacologists know that the body responds to stress by releasing certain chemicals in to our blood stream. These same substances can be detected in other body fluids such as our perspiration. A Golden Retriever named Dakota has reportedly saved the life of his owner from repeated heart attacks. This typically calm dog suddenly starts to become very agitated. His owner knows that when this transpires, he must take his medication. Dakota's accuracy is unfailing. He routinely accompanies his owner to work and has been credited with saving the life of a co-worker by signaling that this person was also going to have an attack.

Dogs are now being trained to warn their owners of impending diabetic crisis, epileptic seizures, and even skin cancer. How they perform these tasks is not fully understood, but the benefit to the potential victim is invaluable. Now man's best friend may be man's best guarantee against life threatening problems. Even if your dog is not so highly trained, it still deserves your love and protection. You know your dog better than anyone else. If you believe that something is just not right, see your veterinarian because it is "Your Pet…Health Matters."