I know that we`ve discussed before about how our dogs sense when we or someone in the family is unwell, but wondering if anyone else has experienced what I am doing right now . Our little terrier Millie suffers from Inflammatory Brain Disease , she was quite poorly last year but responded well to the drugs from our Vet . Very recently , after tailing off the drugs , she has had a relapse , not really bad but enough to cause her seizures to come to the fore , so she is back on her medication again . Usually on walks , Sam will tend to do his own thing whilst Millie just potters along at the side of me, but now, Sam is sticking by his little pal a lot more, actually waiting for her if she doesn't keep up with him . He is also being incredibly gentle with her, not even instigating the play which usually takes place every morning after breakfast . Makes me wonder then , can our Labs sense illness in other dogs or maybe he just senses my anxiety ?
Oh Kate I am sorry to hear Millie isn't too well at the moment What a lovely boy Sam is being so gentle with Millie and yes I do firmly believe dogs sense illness in other dogs. Every time one of our dogs has had surgery the other senses it and leaves them be. Not instigating play and being super gentle, always so pleased to see them return too Hattie always senses this in her doggie pals too even before I have been told what the dog has wrong with it. Dogs are just wonderful and so aware of other sick dogs and humans as I have witnessed too Wishing Millie a speedy recovery now she's back on her medication, poor little lamb. Hugs to Millie and Sam xxx
Sorry to hear Millie isn't too good at the moment. Lovely that Sam is in tune with her. I think dogs do sense when other dogs and humans are not well. I've certainly noticed this in Maisie since she was a little pup she seemed to know when to be gentle with injured or poorly dogs.
Absolutely. A few years ago, our friends had an old Lab, Harvey. They live outside of the village. Also in the village at the time was an elderly scruffy little terrier type, called Charlie. They weren't friends and probably only met a couple of times in their lives, if that. Harvey developed testicular cancer. In the short time before he was diagnosed, Charlie (remember, very elderly, half deaf and blind, quite limited mobility), ran off on his walks repeatedly to Harvey's house, which is several kilometres away and would sit outside. When the door was opened, he would sniff persistently at Harvey's boy bits, way more thoroughly than a regular greeting. Once Harvey was operated on and given the all clear, Charlie slowly lost interest, until they were back to their pre-cancer non-existent relationship. It's lovely that Sam is being so empathetic towards his little sister
Poor little Millie, thank heaven she found you to love and care for her. I am sure dogs can sense illness in humans as well as other dogs. Sam is very considerate x
@snowbunny that is quite an intriguing story Fiona. Dogs must have that special sense. Medical detection dogs prove the point. Sam is a lovely boy and whether or not he has a subliminal knowledge he is a star to look after Miss Millie xx
Yeah dogs are amazing, while reading this i remembered that i saw or read somewhere that dogs can be trained to detect cancer in people (not sure) i might be wrong though.
You're absolutely right, Peter. Normally they're trained to sniff slides of cells rather than actual people (because that would be rather disconcerting for people, and probably very unethical!) and it doesn't easily transfer to the same dogs detecting illness in humans. It's really quite amazing. I've heard of some dogs who have seemingly known their owners had cancer with no training, too. There was a lady on TV not long ago who said she went to her doctor after her dog repeatedly and obsessively sniffed and prodded at her breast. It turned out she had breast cancer. All anecdotal, but moving nonetheless.
