Yes, this is not a myth. Dogs can indeed detect changes in the human body – and often do so before the person notices anything. But it’s important to understand that they don’t “know the diagnosis,” they respond to signals that we don’t even realize.

The dog’s sense of smell is the main reason for this ability

Dogs’ sense of smell is their superpower. Humans have about 5-6 million odor receptors, while dogs have up to 300 million. The difference is enormous. In addition, the part of the brain that processes odors is much larger in dogs.

When a person gets sick, chemical processes change in his or her body. This affects the smell of the body, breath, and sweat. For us, these changes are either imperceptible or very weak, but the dog picks them up clearly. It does not understand that it is “flu” or “cancer”, but it feels that something has changed.

That’s why many dogs start behaving differently around a sick person – they become more attentive, anxious, or vice versa, too calm.

What diseases can dogs experience

Studies show that dogs can detect serious diseases, especially those that change the body’s chemical composition. The most famous cases are oncology, where dogs reacted to certain parts of the human body even before the diagnosis was made.

Dogs can also sense the approach of epileptic seizures. They react to changes in behavior, odors, or even micro-movements of a person before the seizure becomes apparent. There are specially trained dogs that warn their owners minutes before the seizure.

A separate category is diabetes. When the blood sugar level changes, the smell of breath changes, and the dog can smell it. Trained dogs even signal the owner that the glucose level is dangerous.

Emotional state is another signal

Dogs react not only to physical illnesses but also to emotional states. Stress, anxiety, depression – all of this also changes human behavior and even body odor. A dog can become more attached, constantly be near you, touch you, lie down closer. It feels the tension and tries to stabilize the situation in its own way.

That is why dogs are often used as therapy animals – they help people with psychological problems through presence and contact.

Why does a dog sometimes “stick” to a certain place on the body?

There are situations when a dog constantly sniffs or licks the same part of the human body. In some cases, this is due to localized changes, such as inflammation, tumors, or other processes that change the smell of the skin. There are many real-life stories of dogs behaving in this way that led to a visit to the doctor.

But it’s important not to exaggerate. Not every such behavior means a serious illness. Sometimes it can be just interest or a reaction to external factors.

Can it be taught – and how does it work professionally

Yes, dogs can be specially trained to detect diseases. This is done through training using odor samples. The dog remembers how a certain state of the body smells and learns to give a signal. This is how medical dogs work to help people with diabetes, epilepsy, and other conditions. They do not cure, but they can warn and save lives.

Conclusion.

Dogs do not have supernatural powers, but their natural abilities are so strong that they seem like magic. They don’t “know” that a person is sick – they sense changes that are hidden to us.

And it is thanks to this that they can be not just pets, but real helpers who sometimes see (or rather feel) more than a person can see about himself.

We are still learning a lot of interesting things about our smaller friends 🥰