Years ago one of my patients told me that her cat actually detected her breast cancer. Her cat would jump on her and always scratch at the same spot on her left breast. After a while she wondered, and felt, she had “something” there. It was indeed breast cancer and she needed to go through the whole surgery and chemo therapy ordeal. So, every time I saw a TV show about animals detecting a mini stroke, an epileptic seizure or hypoglycemia, it reminded me of my patient.
I was so happy this morning when I read an article about a center in England dedicated to training dogs to sniff out hypoglycemic reactions before they actually happen. We need centers like this all over the world and wouldn’t it be great if dogs could be trained to detect different kinds of cancers and other life threatening conditions.
At the end of the article they stated that scientists were working on an electric nose that could mimic what the dog does, and I was thinking noooooo!!! Why not train those poor stray dogs or dogs in shelters first. Let’s use the animals we have and give them a purpose. Dog lovers know how dogs love to please their owners and imagine the love they can give and receive by being a wonderful companion and a walking diagnostic machine. You can’t replace that with a plastic snout. I know it would become more affordable and therefore more people would benefit, but come on. You can be sure that if you offered a dog to a little girl or boy that just got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, who doesn’t really understand what’s going on, that the dog will comfort her, love her and make her feel secure at all times.
This is my wish for today: give the gift of life and love to a kid and a dog.
What’s your wish?
- Josée
Labels: Josee, Mind-Body Connection, Positive Thinking
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Even after being attacked by a dog last year while jogging... and it was a bad attack, I still see the love for dogs by their owners & the need to stop people who can't handle them from getting them since they end up in shelters. I am still gun shy when I see dogs but I think they are cute from afar & I will ask every so often about petting them. Takes time to get over the attack but my heart is still with the poor abused & neglected animals.