Above and Beyond "stupid pet tricks"

[alfreda89]

Did you know that you can train a dog to sense changes in his owner's breath and body odor -- to be able to tell that a diabetic seizure is immanent, and to dial 911 when the owner collapses?

I'd heard about dogs who can sense a grand mal coming, but this is the first medical assistance dog for diabetics I've heard of.

Wow.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/18/AR2006061800857.html

Comments

[ulitave.livejournal.com]

that's truly amazing. I should mention that to my dad.

[ramblin-phyl.livejournal.com]

I read about this in Diabetes Forecast a couple of years ago. They had enough anecdotal evidence to get grants to begin training. My cat has alerted me to impending low sugar events. It's spooky that she knows before I do.

But I'd never heard of actually training the dog to dial 911! This pup deserves every medal they give him and a bunch of liver treats besides.

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

I know my cats can tell when I'm depressed -- they're more clingy. I wonder if they can tell when the other problem is bad? Max was sitting in my lap a lot last week.

[jacardie.livejournal.com]

Wow! That's amazing!

[ramblin-phyl.livejournal.com]

Trust your cats. You can lie to yourself, but you cannot lie to them.

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

I think you're right. The problem is, like this man, sometimes you try so hard to function, you miss your own signs.