Dogs have an exceptional sense of smell, much superior to that of humans. This ability even allows them to detect specific odors linked to certain diseases, such as cancer, diabetes or epilepsy. Thanks to their incredible flair, disease-detecting dogs play a crucial role in the prevention, early detection, and treatment of a variety of conditions.

A dog's sense of smell is about 100,000 times more sensitive than that of a human. A sense so developed that it allows them to detect specific odors emitted by the human body when a disease is present. Some dogs are therefore trained to be disease detection dogs. Their role? Recognize these odors and alert their owner or health professionals.

Disease detection dogs are capable of detecting a lot of diseases.

• Studies have shown that dogs can detect certain types of cancer, such as lung, breast, skin, or prostate cancer, by sniffing the specific odor that cancer cells emit.
  
  
• Diabetes detection dogs are trained to recognize odor changes associated with blood sugar fluctuations. They can thus alert their master in case of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, allowing rapid treatment and preventing complications.
  
  
• Epilepsy detection dogs can sense chemical changes in the human body that precede a seizure. They can raise the alarm before a crisis occurs, allowing the person concerned to prepare and avoid injuries.
  
  
• Dogs can also be trained to detect certain infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, by sniffing patients' sweat, urine, or breath.

Dogs are trained to recognize the smell of cancer thanks to an Institut Curie project called “Kdog”.

The impact of disease-detecting dogs on human health

Disease detection dogs are valuable allies in the early detection and prevention of various conditions. With their exceptional sense of smell, they can identify signs of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, epilepsy and viral infections, helping to save lives and improve the quality of life of those affected.

Thanks to their ability to detect specific odors emitted by cancer cells, dogs can contribute to the early detection of cancer, increasing the chances of successful treatment.
By alerting their owner to fluctuations in blood sugar levels, diabetes detection dogs allow for rapid treatment and prevent potentially dangerous complications, such as diabetic comas or hypoglycemic attacks.
Epilepsy detection dogs provide a sense of security and independence for people suffering from this condition, by allowing them to take the necessary precautions before a seizure occurs. This can reduce the risk of injury and improve their quality of life.
Infectious disease detection dogs, like COVID-19, can be used in airports, train stations, and other public places to quickly identify infected people and limit the spread of the virus.

It is important to continue to support the research and training of disease-detecting dogs in order to maximize their potential and extend their detection capabilities to other conditions.
These extraordinary dogs help save lives, but also improve the understanding of olfactory mechanisms and the links between body odor and disease.