Cancer and Bio-detection Dogs

Diabetes causes people to have well-recognized changes in odour.  The charity has trained what we believe is the UK’s first hypoglycaemic detection dog for a gentleman with poorly controlled diabetes and poor hypoglycaemic awareness. The dog reliably identifies and alerts when his owner’s blood sugar drops to a level that results in a hypoglycaemic episode. Left unnoticed, this would lead to collapse, coma or even death. This dog accompanies his owner everywhere in order that he can live an independent life. We are currently seeking to register with Assistance Dogs UK, to obtain the access rights enjoyed by the other registered Assistance Dogs such as Guide Dogs for the Blind and Dogs for the Disabled.

Dr Cherry Kearton, a lecturer at Durham University has type 1 diabetes with poor hypoglycaemic awareness, which means that when his blood sugar levels drop to a dangerously low level he is unaware that he is at risk until it is too late. On two separate occasions Cherry has collapsed in the street and had to be attended to by paramedics when he suffered a hypoglycaemic episode.

Cherry’s wife, Angela, became increasingly worried about her husband going out of the house on his own and contacted Cancer and Bio-detection Dogs to ask for help. Claire trained the couple’s pet Labrador Zeta to alert Cherry if his blood sugar levels become too high or too low by jumping across his lap if he is sitting down or jumping up at him if he is standing.

Zeta has given Cherry increased confidence and Angela peace of mind as she knows Cherry will be warned of an impending hypoglycaemic episode and can take the relevant steps to prevent collapse. Having a trained hypo alert dog has changed Cherry’s life, enabling him to carry on working and living his life as independently as possible.

“When humans became hyperglycaemic, (high blood sugar) it is not normally a medical emergency but it can lead to health complications,” said Claire. “It is not a surprise that dogs can detect this as even humans can smell the peardrop smell released on a person’s breath. In contrast, a hypoglycaemic episode, (low blood sugar) is an emergency and can occur rapidly leading to collapse and coma. It’s not clear if this has a smell but from the work we have done we believe it does. The dog may be picking up a particular smell or indeed the absence of a particular scent. It’s all very much trial and error at the moment and we are learning from the dogs.”

We now have six dogs working for clients that are awaiting final qualification. We are currently seeking to register with Assistance Dogs UK, to obtain the access rights enjoyed by the other registered Assistance Dogs such as Guide Dogs for the Blind and Dogs for the Disabled.