Animals Who Make a Difference

Learn How Animals Detect Illness

They're more than just companions, they're also part of the healthcare team. Find out how animals are making an important difference to people's health and well being. Doctors, nurses, support workers, therapists — and animals?

When it comes to better health, not all members of the team walk on two legs. Animals are increasingly becoming a part of therapies designed to help both the body and the mind — not to mention how we diagnose and manage disease. We’re used to seeing dogs with jobs — like police dogs or guide dogs — but there are many ways that animals are making a difference. Here are a few ways animals are improving the health and well being of their human companions.

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Sounding the Alarm

For people with type 1 diabetes, a drop in blood sugar can be dangerous, but not everyone can recognize the symptoms of these hypoglycaemic episodes — especially if they’re asleep when they happen. Enter the nose: dogs can detect a change in body chemistry and alert their human companions about a drop in blood glucose levels before things get serious.

Dogs warn with behaviours like pawing, nudging, pacing or putting their heads in an owner’s lap — or they might wake people up in the middle of the night with a testing kit in their jaws. In the past several years, more organizations are training dogs to recognize changes in blood glucose levels, and pairing them up with adults and children to help manage the disease. (Read the article in Diabetes Forecast for more information.)

Another example of this canine early warning system: dogs can warn people who suffer from frequent seizures when one is going to happen. This advanced notice allows people the time to lie down or get to a safe area in time.

Screening for Cancer

You’ve heard the joke involving a “lab test” from a retriever? The breed may be wrong but the logic isn’t that far fetched. Scientists continue to investigate how dogs can sniff out some forms of cancer — or rather, the by-products of cancerous cells. Cancer cells release different “waste products” than normal cells, and these substances are released through our skin, breath and urine. With their keen noses, dogs can be trained to detect these biochemical markers, even in the earliest stages of disease.

The latest findings: a small French study reported that dogs can detect prostate tumours — or rather, a molecule produced by them — with a higher degree of accuracy than controversial PSA tests. While the findings are preliminary, they fall in line with previous studies involving those powerful noses.

In 2006 researchers at Florida State University found that dogs could detect the disease in breath samples from patients who had breast cancer or lung cancer.

In 2008, scientists in Philadelphia found that dogs can detect skin cancer based on chemicals emitted by the skin. Dogs have also showed promise in detecting bladder cancer from smelling urine. While much of this research is still in its early stages, scientists hope that they can use their findings to develop faster and more accurate tests.

Comfort

It’s a win-win situation: pets love the attention, and people benefit from some snuggle time and unconditional love. The health benefits of pets are well known, so it’s no surprise they’re welcome guests in long term care facilities, children’s health centres, mental health facilities and hospitals.

Patients who get regular visits from furry friends have a better quality of life, they sleep and eat better, they’re more social and participate in more activities. Another bonus: you’ll see more smiles on their faces.

Of course, dogs aren’t the only ones making the rounds. We don’t often hear about cats with jobs, but felines and their owners are also an important part of pet therapy programs.

Building the Body and the Brain

Horseback riding isn’t just a leisure activity. For people with physical disabilities, it can be an important way to improve muscle tone, balance and coordination. This specialized form of physiotherapy — known as hippotherapy — uses the horse as a tool to aid in rehabilitation.

The effects of this treatment aren’t just physical. Horses provide a freedom and a sense of independence and achievement. A related therapy, known as therapeutic riding, works on these other objectives, and includes all aspects of horseback riding from animal care to learning how to ride.

Participants have the chance to learn new skills, work with others and even find employment. Visit a local school or library and you might just find some furry friends enjoying a good story too. Pets make the environment more relaxed and making reading out loud less intimidating — and what better way to develop a love of reading? Reading isn’t the only skill children can develop.

One organization, COPE Service Dogs, enlists the help of at-risk youth and adults with disabilities in their service dog training programs. These programs foster responsibility, empathy and leadership skills. In Canada and the U.S., prison inmates can also participate in puppy raising and training programs as well, helping with rehabilitation.

Opening up the World

For children with autism, animals can help open up the world. In recent years, animal-assisted therapy involving horses, dolphins, dogs and cats has shown many benefits for children with this condition that affects communication and socialization. Children “open up” when animals are around, and pets offer opportunities to interact with other humans too. Outside the sessions, dogs can offer permanent support to children with autism and their families.

Specially trained Autism Service Dogs go everywhere — including family outings and to school. When connected by a tether to their companion, the dogs prevent children from bolting and thereby offer a measure of safety and security for families.

Furthermore, an animal’s soothing presence can help keep outbursts in check, and help the child transition to different environments and activities. Dogs can also help improve attention span too.

Get Involved

Perhaps the animals get all the attention — and the well-earned applause — but people make these programs possible. Government funding and grants can help, but it’s usually up to volunteers and donors to cover the costs. Here are some ways you can get involved:

- Donate money. Cash contributions help cover the costs of raising and training animals, especially when the recipient families can only cover part of the expenses.

- Donate time. Love animals? Training centres often need volunteers for some one-on-one time with the animals, like walking, grooming and baby-sitting. Extra hands are always needed for fundraising and special events too.

- Raise an animal. Until they start training, animals are raised by volunteers who are responsible for house training, basic obedience and socialization. These commitments take a lot of time and love, and last over a year.

- Volunteer with your pet. Your pet doesn’t have to have years of training to be a therapy pet — just good manners, proper hygiene and an affectionate disposition. There are many organizations, events and programs out there — but it may take a little research to find the right fit in your area.