We all know dogs have an amazing sense of smell, but did you know a dog can smell:
- Bacteria: Dogs have been used since 1970 to sniff out bacteria diseased bee colonies, to help prevent the spread of infection. The work that would take a human 2 days, is accomplished by the dog in 45 minutes!
- DVDs: Dogs can smell polycarbonate in DVDs and are being used to make counterfeit DVD busts.
- Diabetes: Dogs are able to predict dangerous blood sugar levels and if trained can alert their owner and even fetch an insulin kit.
- Seizures: Seizure alert dogs can detect a faint change in scent and behavior and can warn their owner approximately 30 – 45 sec. prior to a seizure, giving the owner time to get into a safe position for the seizure.
- Whale Poop: Scientists need to analyze a whales fecal matter to determine its health, but whale poop sinks within a half hour of exiting the whale. Dogs have been trained to smell the poop from over a mile away.
- Bed Bugs: Dogs trained to sniff out bed bugs can be hired and are reported to have an accuracy as high as 96%.
- Cancer: In breast and lung cancer, waste products of the tumors are exhaled in the breath of the patient. Dogs have been trained to smell these waste products by sniffing a patient’s breath.
- Ovulation in Cows: Artificial insemination in cows is an expensive business. Dogs are being used to help cut some loses by letting farmers know when a cow is in heat and thus the best time for an insemination to be successful.
If you have questions, contact us at Chestermere Veterinary Clinic 403-272-3573, or visit us on Facebook!
Source:
Wears, Adam. List Verse. 10 Unexpected Things That Dogs Can Smell. January 17, 2013.
http://listverse.com/2013/01/17/10-unexpected-things-that-dogs-can-smell/. Web October 3, 2014.
Hoyt, Alia. How Stuff Works. Can a Dog Really Predict an Epileptic Seizure? May 5, 2008.
http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/dog-predict-seizure.htm . Web October 3, 2014.
