Dogs – On the Brink of Sniffing Out Disease?

Dog’s noses are amazing, so much in fact they are able to detect individual scent molecules among thousands; molecules so small that they elude hi-tech sensory equipment.

Dog’s noses are used to rescue people, discover drugs, uncover agricultural contraband, sniff out bombs and detect landmines.

What about disease?  There has been evidence that dogs may be able to give early warning signs of cancer and the onset of epileptic seizures.  In spite of a lot of hype, however, the evidence is far from conclusive.  Researchers have made some progress but the jury is still out on whether dogs will assume a new role in the field of medicine.

Check out some of these scenarios we got from Petplace.com.

Sniffing Out Cancer

In 1989, a woman went to see her doctor about a mole in her left leg. The mole had been there for quite a few months, but she paid it little interest. Her dog, on the other hand, soon became obsessed with it.

At first, the dog – a cross between a border collie and a Doberman – constantly sniffed or licked at the mole, even through clothing. He eventually tried to bite it off, according to the Lancet, a highly respected British medical journal. The 44-year-old woman decided it was time to get this thing checked out. The mole turned out to be malignant melanoma, a life-threatening form of skin cancer, and it was quickly removed. Her dog, by bringing it to her attention, had saved the woman’s life.

Intrigued with persistent reports of such phenomena, Florida dermatologist Armand Cognetta decided to investigate possible medical uses. In 1996, Cognetta borrowed a 7-year-old schnauzer named George, a recently retired bomb-sniffing canine, and asked for help from a veteran dog trainer. The goal was to see if George (who had an uncanny sense of smell, even for a dog) could consistently sniff out melanoma, in both tissue samples and in people.

Normally, a handheld microscope is used to diagnose potential skin cancer, followed by a biopsy. The microscope is about 80 percent effective in early diagnosis, which is why further tests are usually conducted to confirm the diagnosis.

After many hours of training, the gray schnauzer scored nearly 100 percent on identifying melanoma tissue samples. Cognetta then allowed George to “examine” actual patients. He discovered melanoma in four (possibly five, depending on how you look at the results) of seven patients. Cognetta wrote that the results were interesting but far from conclusive. A much larger, more controlled study is necessary to determine if dogs can be trained to reliably detect cancer.

However, if they do have the ability to detect disease, don’t expect dogs in medical practices any time soon. The cost to train a dog would be astronomical – $35,000 per dog, with 1,200 hours of training. That costs way more than even an MRI exam. A biopsy would be necessary in any case, because doctors would never base an opinion on a single diagnosis.

The real promise is to discover how dogs are able to do it, and then build a machine to mimic the skill. Studies are underway in seven institutions across the globe to find out why some dogs have this amazing ability.

Detecting Epilepsy

Dogs also have been reported to be able to detect the onset of epileptic seizures, sometimes 20 minutes prior to an attack. The benefit of this is obvious: a person can be forewarned to find a safe place or get help before being incapacitated.

Unfortunately, in spite of the many anecdotal reports of “seizure alert dogs,” there is no scientific evidence or documented proof that dogs can be reliably trained to detect the onset of a seizure. The seizure itself is a symptom, not a specific disease. Seizures can occur for a variety of reasons, one of which is epilepsy. Regardless of the cause, the electrical activity in the brain is temporarily disrupted during a seizure. Seizures can be hardly noticeable, or they can be incapacitating.

The Epilepsy Institute has been unsuccessful in its attempts to study whether dogs can reliably predict seizures. The institute used EEG machines and video cameras to monitor epileptics with their dogs. Limited funding did not permit 24-hour monitoring, and during the monitoring no seizures took place.

But finding evidence of this ability would only be a first step. Training a dog to recognize and respond appropriately is the greater challenge. If dogs have this ability, there is no way to know if a dog can be trained with this skill.

“There is no guarantee that a dog, if he can detect a seizure, will do so 10 out of 10 times,” explained Beth Rivard, executive director of a nationally recognized service dog program. Rivard heads up the Prison Pet Partnership Program, at Washington Corrections Center for Women, in Washington.

Beginning in 1981, the program has been teaching inmates to care for and train service dogs, which are then placed with recipients suffering from a number of disorders, including epilepsy. When a seizure begins, dogs are trained to stay with the person, and to get a phone or medication if directed to do so. They also know to get help, and may even know to try to roll a person onto his side to prevent choking.

But Rivard said there’s no way to train a dog to detect when a seizure is imminent. “It would be a great thing if they can do it, but how do you prove it every time,” she said. If a dog senses a chemical change prior to a seizure – which they may – the odor would have to be replicated to train the dog to react the right way, every time. That may be difficult because seizures are electrical disturbances within the brain.

The Epilepsy Institute recommends against getting a dog for the purpose of predicting seizures, and does not recommend any trainers for this purpose. After conducting interviews, the institute concluded that despite the publicity, few people have actually reported that their pets have this ability. Half of those who said their pets did show some ability were more likely to identify behavior during or after a seizure – and not before.

However, the institute noted that enough reports sound authentic enough to warrant more scientific research.

The institute is pursuing funding to conduct more extensive research, and has developed a pet profile questionnaire to collect data on the subject. After filling out the form, individuals will be interviewed by phone to the likelihood that their pet can detect seizures prior to human awareness.

The Laws Of Cat Physics

Cats are very entertaining at times.  We’d like to share some funny Cat Laws of Physics.

The Unique Bond With Your Cat

Cats, their owners and the unique bond that is created.

A new study conducted by Kelton Research reveals that Americans share a powerful bond with their furry felines in a relationship only they understand.  They found that 31% of survey takers admitted that they’d rather speak with their cat after a long tiresome day than with their best friend, children or parents.  This is because 33% of the surveyors say they believe they communicate better with their cat than their significant other.

Cat owners are very secure in the bond they have with their cat.  According to the survey, almost all cat owners (97%) said they can name at least one emotion or state of mind that they can easily decipher from the way their cat acts.  Moods such as hunger, happiness and fear were all emotions cat owners could easily see in their cat.

The study also found that a lot of pet owners relate their cat’s inner voice to a celebrity.  According to the survey, 18 percent said that if their cat could talk they would sound like the popular talk show host Ellen Degeneres.  Thirteen percent said Fran Dresher while 12 percent said Sean Connery.

According to the survey, when it comes to communication between cats and their pet parents, 20% of parents believe their cat is trying to communicate with them through gestures or sounds.  On average, cat owners believe their feline companions understand about 13 different words.

Cats are members of the family and people rely on them for companionship.  When a bond is formed between pet parents and their cats, it extends beyond meows to an innate relationship that provides an even deeper understanding.

Do you feel you have a deep bond with your cat?  Cats and other domesticated animals provide unconditional love for their family and it is amazing what kind of a bond you can develop with your pet.

Great Customer Testimonial

Here is a great customer testimonial we recently received.  The customer was going to have to replace their basement carpet because of a terrible odor.  Thankfully our product removed the odor for them, saving them thousands of dollars.

No THANK YOU! This stuff is amazing! It saved me a bundle by not having to replace the basement carpet because of the strong “doggie” odor. Now it’s like there never was a dog in my new home. Thanks so much for making this available. I’ve already recommended it to several friends.

DH

Great story about Willow the cat being reunited with her family after 5 years!

Five years after she went missing from her Colorado home, Willow the cat has been reunited with her owners.

Back together with Willow, whose journey took her from Colorado to New York City, her owners are grateful for the technology that helped them identify their long-lost kitty.

A Dog’s New Years Resolutions:

A Dog’s New Years Resolutions:

I will stop trying to find the few remaining clean pieces of carpet in the house when I am about to throw up.

I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc.

I will not eat other animals’ poop.

I will not lick my human’s face after eating animal poop.

I will not eat my own vomit.

I will not eat “kitty box crunchies”.

I will not eat any more socks and then re-deposit them in the backyard after processing.

The diaper pail is not a cookie jar. I will not eat the disposable diapers, especially the dirty ones.

I will not chew my human’s toothbrush and not tell them.

I will not chew crayons or pens, specially not the red ones, or my people will think I am hemorrhaging.

When in the car, I will not insist on having the window rolled down when it’s raining outside.

I will not drop soggy tennis balls in the underwear of someone who is sitting on the toilet.

I will not bark each time I hear a door bell on TV.

I will not walk under the big dog when he is peeing.

I will not steal Mom’s underwear and dance all over the back yard with it.

I will not play tug-o’-war with Dad’s underwear when he’s on the toilet.

The sofa is not a face towel. Neither are Mom & Dad’s laps.

My head does not belong in the refrigerator.

I will not bite the officer’s hand when he reaches in for Mom’s driver’s license and car registration.

I do not need to suddenly stand straight up when I’m lying under the coffee table.

I will not roll my toys behind the fridge.

The garbage collector is NOT stealing our stuff.

I must shake the rainwater out of my fur BEFORE entering the house.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!  FROM EARTH CARE PRODUCTS

Shelter and Dog Rescue Groups Across the U.S. will Receive Help from PEDIGREE Foundation Grants $750,000 Awarded for Creative Programs and Basic Operational Needs to Help Dogs in Need Find Loving Homes

Shelter and Dog Rescue Groups Across the U.S. will Receive Help from PEDIGREE Foundation Grants
$750,000 Awarded for Creative Programs and Basic Operational Needs to Help Dogs in Need Find Loving Homes

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — PEDIGREE Foundation announced today the recipients of seven Innovation and 691 Operational Grants. Thanks to the generosity and donations from dog lovers across the country, the Foundation is proud to award a total of $750,000 to these selected local shelter and dog rescue groups. These one-time grants help fund creative programs and basic operating costs aimed at increasing dog adoptions and helping the more than four million homeless dogs find loving homes. In 2010 alone, PEDIGREE Foundation helped shelter and rescue groups give more than 80,000 dogs much needed comfort until they found their forever homes.

PEDIGREE Foundation Operational Grants were awarded to help alleviate the struggle shelters and rescues have to fund and provide the essential needs for dogs, including food, comfort, transportation and medical care. The 691 shelter and rescue groups will each receive $868 to help one dog at a time as they wait to find a loving home. Since 2008, PEDIGREE Foundation has distributed $4 million to thousands of organizations to help with their operational expenses.

For the second year, the Foundation is awarding $150,000 in Innovation Grants. These grants recognize shelters and rescues that are pioneering the industry with new ideas and efforts to help find dogs forever homes. Seven selected shelters will receive between $10,000 and $25,000 in grant money to fund their unique programs aimed at helping increase dog adoptions. Chosen out of almost 200 grant applications, these organizations truly demonstrate their ability to bring creative ideas to help improve adoption rates and the welfare of animals within their communities.

“We are grateful for the hard work shelters and rescues do every day,” said Debra Fair, PEDIGREE Foundation president. “From community outreach to behavior programs, we’re proud to award grants to aid in the adoption process that helps dogs find their forever homes.”

2011 Innovation Grant Winners

PEDIGREE Foundation Innovation Grant money, to be used within a one-year period, will assist homeless dogs with a variety of needs, including; behavior training, feeding, housing and support for medical issues:

Paw Prints Humane Society of Sedona, Inc. of Sedona, AZ, was awarded $10,000 to help fund the Mobile Adoption Vehicle to help increase adoptions, increase community education and awareness and serve as an emergency evacuation vehicle for at-risk animals in the Northern Arizona area.

Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Eatontown, NJ, was awarded $25,000 to help fund a Dog Behavioral Department which uses positive reinforcement training and enrichment to increase the adoptability of shelter dogs. The program focuses especially on those who come into the shelter with behavioral issues or who develop behaviors as a result of an extended stay in the shelter system.

Humane Society of Rochester and Monroe County PCA of Fairport, NY, was awarded $10,000 to help fund the Behavior Modification and Enrichment Program to help dogs change behavior and ultimately find an adoptive family and forever home.

Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) of Philadelphia, PA, was awarded $25,000 to help fund “Adopt a South Philly Dog” program which increases dog adoptions in this densely populated area with few walk-in adoption facilities.

Nashville Humane Association of Nashville, TN, was awarded $14,000 for a research program that will evaluate staff training and adoption policies of collaborative organizations that use visual and staff-based experience to identify dog breeds and mixes of those breeds. This program is aimed to increase dog adoption and retention.

Oklahoma Humane Society of Oklahoma City, OK, was awarded $25,000 to help fund the Homeward Bound Transport Program to safely and efficiently transport 80 dogs at a time from high-risk situations to safe outcomes.

SPCA for Monterey County of Monterey, CA, was awarded $25,000 for its ‘Take the Lead’ program which pairs dogs with at-risk youth. During each five week course, the youth are tasked with teaching their dogs basic skills and providing one-on-one interaction. The dogs learn new skills which make them more adoptable and the children learn important life, leadership and communication skills as they work to teach un-socialized dogs how to be great canine citizens through positive reinforcement.

From http://www.marketwatch.com/story/shelter-and-dog-rescue-groups-across-the-us-will-receive-help-from-pedigree-foundation-grants-2011-12-19

Great Story About a Dog Saving It’s Family’s Life

Looking for an excellent Odor Remover for your barn or horse stall?

As we are in full swing of the winter months, a lot of horses and other large animals are kept in a stall or barn for extra warmth and protection from the elements. That means urine, stinky stalls, ammonia, and other odors that are a hazard to your horses health become much more prevalent.

Clear the Air’s Odor Remover is a great addition to keeping your animals stall free of odor.   It is made from an all natural mineral and is non toxic, non hazardous, non-caustic, and biodegradable. It can safely be used around pets and children and it will not hurt your pet even if eaten. Ammonia is a health risk to your animals and the accumulation of ammonia in horse stalls and barns is more than an odor nuisance. Studies have concluded that low levels of ammonia stresses a horse’s upper respiratory airways placing them at risk of pneumonia, heaves, and other serious illnesses. Foals are especially vulnerable to these ailments. Clear the Air absorbs and neutralizes ammonia and odors while providing fresh and safe air for your horse in it’s stall.

Many of the odor and pollution control products on the market today act merely as masking agents. This means they add chemicals to the air to cover up odors and actually increase the level of indoor pollutants in the process. Earth Care, on the other hand, truly eliminates odors and cleans the air by adsorbing and neutralizing odors. Earth Care Products are especially beneficial to those that suffer from chemical sensitivity which can be aggravated by fragrances.

Earth Care is safe for Planet Earth. To dispose of Earth Care simply add to your soil, it is an excellent nitrogen soil amendment.

For Horse Stalls, we recommend our 9lb bucket, which can be purchased online at our website: www.cleartheair.com

Testimonial from another satisfied customer!

Here is another great testimonial from one of our many satisfied customers!  If you have a testimonial we would love to hear about it.  You can send it to pmolina@cleartheair.com or post it on our Facebook.

I just want to let you know that purchased the Clear The Air Odor Eliminator and used per your instructions and am very glad to say the odor has vanished.  I am recommending your product to friends and family.  Thank you so much!

Sincerely,

Lydia