4. Seizures
We have to say this from the beginning: there is not enough evidence to show us that dogs can smell when a seizure is coming up. Most of the information that we have right now comes from the subjective surveys of the owners and some small samples. We are not yet sure how to train dogs to detect when there is an oncoming seizure.
But even if we don’t know if pups can detect when seizures are coming or not, we can train them on how to react when their owner is suffering a seizure. Many service dogs are trained to assist their owners in cases of seizures.
In a study from 2019, researchers found out that canines can differentiate the odor of a patient who was suffering from epileptic seizures from the odor of the same patient when they were feeling okay. In this study, five dogs had to complete this task. Because the sample was so small and there were only a handful of dogs there, it is obvious that we need further studies to get a valid result.
Until then, we can still train puppies to help their owners when a seizure is already happening. This is a very important task and could save many lives.
14 Responses
I have a 2 year old St. Bernard who can detect low blood sugar and wakes me up when mine drops dangerously low.
Very. Helpful.
That is so awesome! I hope you give him anything he wants! ( he ‘s big enough, so I guess you’d better!) You truely have a wonderful friend.
My Aussie sniffed my lymphoma 1 year before medical detection. Wanted to sniff my affected nodes & tell me. Same dog who smelled my steak on the table but could reach it. Chairs were pulled under table and he took his paw & pulled out the chair & put his front paws on the seat to reach the steak. Amazing dog—in heaven now waiting for me.
That’s really interesting
We have three dogs that we trained ourselves. No med training at all. Yet they still can and have sensed when something was wrong with me back in 2020. They helped save my life. There was another time after that they saved their daddy’s life too. He was about to have a heartattck. The doctors were amazed that the dogs can do all of that. They said yes they saved you. So they have a forever home. One has been detecting my brother’s blood sugar being low. So she has been staying by his side. The Other dogs aren’t being allowed inside families house at the moment. We are only visiting with them right now.
My yorkie lets me know if I’m about to do something that will piss my wife off by bringing me a beer.
Would like to know more about how amazing our companions are? From smelling diseases to knowing how to tell when they need care and attention.
I would like to know of places that train dogs for this.
Where can you have your dog trained to help owners?
I had a bad case of bronchitis and strangled and quit breathing on mucus. My dog started head butting me just below the rib cage. Until I gasped a breath. I had sore belly and ribs but he saved my life.
how would i know how my dog is trying to tell me something, i have high blood pressure and anxitey and diebities, he’s always following me around the house but i don’t know what he’s trying to tell me, how can i get help so i’ll know what he’s trying to tell me. Vivian
When I was a teenager, I gave a Lab/Doberman mix puppy to one of my friends. My friend and her mother were epileptic. When the puppy was around 1-2 years old, she started alerting them when they were about to have a seizure! No special training, she just started doing it on her own! She would paw at them and whine non-stop until they acknowledged what was happening. Dogs are amazing!❤️
I would like to know where I could get my dog some training for this