Dogs Smelling Cancer ???

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Dog’s Sniffing Out Cancer

The article from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) by Ungar et al., published in January 2024, explores the remarkable abilities of trained scent-detection dogs in identifying diseases in both humans and animals. This research underscores the One Health concept, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. 

The study highlights that dogs, having a sense of smell about 100,000 times more sensitive than humans, can detect various diseases through the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by affected individuals. These VOCs, unique to each illness, are present in exhaled breath, urine, blood, and other bodily substances. 

One significant finding of the research is the successful use of dogs to detect COVID-19 infections with 94–96% accuracy and a rapid detection time of 5–10 seconds. This capability is particularly valuable given the dogs' potential to identify infections days before the onset of symptoms, offering a non-invasive and efficient screening tool. 

Beyond COVID-19, dogs have been trained to detect various cancers, including mammary, prostate, lung, ovarian, colorectal, and melanoma, with high sensitivity and specificity. This has been demonstrated through multiple studies using different sample types such as breath, urine, and blood. 

For instance, in a study involving Beagle dogs trained with serum samples from lung cancer patients, the dogs achieved high accuracy rates in detecting cancer. Similar success was seen in detecting lung cancer using breath and urine samples. Conversely, some studies, like one focusing on detecting breast or prostate cancer in urine samples, yielded results no better than chance, highlighting challenges in training and methodology. 

In veterinary medicine, there has been parallel research on cancer detection in dogs, with varying degrees of success. One study involved training dogs to detect urinary transitional cell carcinoma in other dogs, though the results were inconclusive. 

Looking ahead, the potential of using scent-detection dogs in healthcare is vast. Future research will focus on refining training methods, sample collection and storage, and understanding how treatment affects scent detection. The application of this research could revolutionize early disease detection, offering a non-invasive and efficient method that benefits both human and veterinary medicine. 

Pellin, M. A., Malone, L. A., & Ungar, P. (2023). The use of sniffer dogs for early detection of cancer: a One Health approach. American Journal of Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.23.10.0222 

Bottom line — This has the potential to revolutionize disease detection.

Disease Incidence of Search and Rescue Dogs

This comprehensive study on the health of Search-and-Rescue (SAR) dogs highlights the importance of understanding and managing their health needs throughout their lives, not just during deployments. The study, which included data from SAR dogs deployed after the 9/11 attacks and a comparison group that was not, aimed to understand the incidence of nonsurgical health events across their lifetimes. The findings revealed that the most common health issues in SAR dogs involve the musculoskeletal, integumentary (skin), and gastrointestinal systems, with inflammatory, degenerative, and traumatic conditions being the most prevalent. 

Interestingly, the study found no significant difference in the incidence of these health issues between dogs deployed to 9/11 and those that were not. This suggests that deployment status does not majorly influence overall health outcomes. The most frequent musculoskeletal diseases were related to inflammation, degeneration, and trauma, which is consistent with findings in other working dog populations, like military and farm dogs. The integumentary system was mostly affected by inflammatory and traumatic events, with a small number of cases related to neoplasia (tumors), though these were rarely lethal. Gastrointestinal issues were also noted, particularly in breeds like German Shepherd Dogs, which have a higher incidence of irritable bowel disease. 

The study underscores the importance of targeted preventive care and health management for SAR dogs, emphasizing the need for specific research focused on working dogs, given their different risk factors compared to pets. It suggests exploring the relationship between body condition, diet, and targeted fitness programs on the health of SAR dogs, particularly in preventing musculoskeletal injuries. The study also points out the necessity of developing protocols for preventing integumentary and gastrointestinal issues, possibly through diet, monthly preventatives, and specific decontamination protocols.

Seeley, A. C., Isaksen, K. E., Lucas, A., Cogger, N., & Otto, C. M. (2023). A 15-year longitudinal study of search-and-rescue dogs identifies the musculoskeletal, integumentary, and gastrointestinal systems as commonly affected. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.23.08.0439  

Bottom line — No disease incidence difference pre/post 9/11 suggesting deployment does not affect overall health.

How Diet Might Influence Expression of Otitis

Otitis, an inflammation of the ear, is a common condition in dogs, affecting various parts of the ear: external ear canal (otitis externa), middle ear (otitis media), and inner ear (otitis interna). The disease's prevalence in Europe ranges from 8.7 to 20%. Its causes are multifaceted, involving primary factors like allergies, atopic dermatitis, food hypersensitivity, and other autoimmune and endocrine diseases. These primary causes are often exacerbated by secondary yeast and bacterial infections. The age of onset varies depending on the underlying cause. 

Recent research has highlighted the importance of early life exposures, particularly diet, in influencing a dog's risk of developing otitis later in life. This aligns with the Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis, which suggests that early life diet and environmental factors can affect the immune system through epigenetic changes and microbiome establishment. 

A significant finding is the role of the mother's health and diet in predicting otitis in offspring. Dogs with a maternal history of otitis are at higher risk of developing the condition. Additionally, the study found a strong link between canine atopic dermatitis and otitis, with atopic dogs showing a higher prevalence of otitis symptoms. 

Breed predisposition also plays a role in otitis development, with some breeds being more prone than others. However, factors such as ear shape and presence of hair in the ear canal, while associated with otitis, were not significant in final models. 

Modifiable factors like diet during early life stages (prenatal, early postnatal, and late postnatal) have a substantial impact on otitis risk. Non-processed meat-based diets (NPMD) fed to pregnant dams and puppies are associated with a reduced risk of otitis, whereas ultra-processed carbohydrate diets (UPCD) correlate with an increased risk. The study emphasizes the importance of high-quality protein and low carbohydrate content in these diets for optimal immune system development. 

Environmental factors, including the type of flooring, sunlight exposure, and whether the dog remains with its birth family or moves to a new one, also influence otitis risk. Exposure to diverse environmental factors and microbiomes seems to strengthen the immune system, reducing the risk of otitis. 

In summary, the study underscores the multifactorial nature of otitis in dogs, highlighting the significant roles of genetics, environment, and particularly early life diet in influencing the risk of developing this condition. 

Front. Vet. Sci., 06 November 2023 
Sec. Animal Nutrition and Metabolism 
Volume 10 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1186131  

Bottom line — Maternal and early puppy diets seem to be associated with disease incidence later in life.

Just putting things in perspective …