How Do Dogs Smell Diseases?

Written by Aanandita Mahavadi

Did you know dogs can sniff out diseases like cancer or diabetes? Their super noses are so sensitive that they can detect tiny changes in the chemicals our bodies produce when we’re sick.

Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, with up to 300 million scent receptors in their noses. Humans only have about 5 million, so dogs’ noses are way more powerful. Scientists train them to recognize the unique smells of certain illnesses. For example, they can smell the changes in blood sugar levels in someone with diabetes and warn their owner before they have a problem.

One cool thing is how dogs can detect cancer. Some cancers produce specific chemicals that humans can’t smell, but dogs can. In fact, some trained dogs have even detected cancer earlier than medical tests, which could save lives.

During COVID-19, dogs were trained to smell the virus. In airports and events, they could identify people who were infected. While dogs won’t replace doctors, they’re becoming a helpful tool in healthcare.

Dogs aren’t just our best friends—they might also save our lives one day. Their amazing noses are helping scientists learn more about how diseases work, and who knows what other medical mysteries they’ll help solve next!

References:

Medical News Today. (2022). Dogs sniff out cancer: Canines could detect breast cancer in women. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com

National Institutes of Health. (2020). Dogs and COVID-19: Scent detection and early diagnosis. https://www.nih.gov

Written by Aanandita Mahavadi from MEDILOQUY