I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains. Australia is the sunburnt melanoma
capital of the world. Dogs are able to smell changes in our bodies and have helped to alert
owners of skin cancers, potentially saving lives.

The same attribute of dogs that makes them effective in sniffing out bombs and drugs for our
federal police can be used to detect a variety of cancers in their human carers.

Veterinary Adviser and Dogs NSW Spokesman Dr Peter Higgins is impressed. “Dogs are
terrific to have around, helping us in many ways. The ability to use their superior olfactory
sense is a great asset. Dogs have been known to smell melanomas, internal cancers and even
detect abnormalities in their diabetic owners.”

“You see, a dog’s brain is different from ours. The canine brain has a larger section dedicated
to smell than does the human brain, with a greater convergence of neurons between the nose
and the brain.”

Dogs’ ability to smell has been a valuable asset to society for a long time. During the 1900s
dogs have been utilised in industries of security and war – protecting our assets and providing
companionship. Missing persons and natural disaster victims have been traced by specially
trained canines. Now in 2010 we are grateful to dogs for helping in some medical fields. A dog
is man’s best friend in so many ways.

This ability of dogs to use smell so effectively has inspired research using dogs to help develop
cancer tests in the US.

“Trained dogs can detect different smells in the breath of patients with a variety of cancer
situations,” says Dr Higgins. “Dogs can be taught behaviours and respond well to incentive
programs. This is great for medical research which is attempting to develop reliable cancer
detecting techniques. We know that cancer cells give off different odours and trained dogs are
a huge asset in that research process.”

With their very sensitive noses, dogs can be valuable in alerting us when something is wrong.
Dogs NSW suggests that prevention is better than cure, and recommends that we all stay safe
during summer. Skin cancers are a problem for Australians. It is always best to heed early
warning signs.

Play it safe this summer
Dogs sniffing cancer
MEDIA RELEASE
7 December 2010