--- title: "Can Dogs Smell Cancer?" id: "202952" type: "post" slug: "can-dogs-smell-cancer" published_at: "2022-11-14T14:30:00+00:00" modified_at: "2022-12-20T14:58:28+00:00" url: "https://www.petlandfortmyers.com/2022/11/14/can-dogs-smell-cancer/" markdown_url: "https://www.petlandfortmyers.com/2022/11/14/can-dogs-smell-cancer.md" excerpt: "Dogs have helped humans out over hundreds of years. From rescuing people, to tracking missing persons, to detecting bombs, to herding sheep. One of the most amazing abilities that dogs are also known for is their ability to detect certain..." taxonomy_category: - "Community" --- [Home](https://www.petlandfortmyers.com/) / [Blog](https://www.petlandfortmyers.com/blog/) / [Community](https://www.petlandfortmyers.com/category/petland/) / **Can Dogs Smell Cancer?** [Community](https://www.petlandfortmyers.com/category/petland/) # Can Dogs Smell Cancer? November 14, 2022 · 3 min read · [Carley Kuehner](https://www.petlandfortmyers.com/author/cosmick/) [Stay connected via Google News Follow Us For The Latest Pet Updates and Guides.](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=www.petlandfortmyers.com) Dogs have helped humans out over hundreds of years. From rescuing people, to tracking missing persons, to detecting bombs, to herding sheep. One of the most amazing abilities that dogs are also known for is their ability to detect certain types of cancers in people. Recent studies have confirmed that certain trained dogs may be able to detect cancer in people about 40% of the time. Although this is very far from being perfected, it does go to show just how amazing dogs are. ## **How do Dogs Detect this?** Dogs have an incredible sense of smell. Our fur-legged friends have up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their nose. To compare, the average person only has about six million olfactory receptors, making a dog’s nose forty times more sensitive than our noses! This is why dogs are commonly used in search and rescue missions, as they can trace a human scent for miles. When a dog smells, it actually smells in 3D. Their nose has been an amazing tool for their survival for thousands of years and continues to be their number one sense. ## Do All Dogs Smell Cancer? Untrained dogs do not have the ability to recognize cancer. Dogs that have this ability require a lot of training and testing. Currently, dogs that are trained to detect cancer are only being trained in a trial process. There is still much more research that needs to be completed before dogs can be used as a medically reliable detection source. Enjoying this read? You'll love our puppies. Adorable, vet-checked pups looking for their forever homes — available now. [Meet our puppies](https://www.petlandfortmyers.com/puppies-for-sale/) ## Will Doctors Use Eventually Dogs to Detect Cancer? It is very unlikely that a dog will be used as the only way to detect cancer, especially with all of the modern technology that exists today. It has not been fully determined whether dogs can be reliably trained to smell cancer at this point in time. At least not on a consistent basis. Proving that this method of cancer detection is accurate enough to use very well could be many years away, if ever. Even if we do reach the point where a dog can accurately detect cancer, it would be very difficult to train a dog to communicate what they have smelled without further testing being administered. ## **What Types of Cancer do Dogs Pick Up On?** - Breast cancer and lung cancer can at times be detected by sniffing the breath of patients. In these studies, it is thought that the dogs sensed biochemical differences in the exhalation of subjects with diagnosed cancer and subjects with no known cancer. - Bladder cancer and prostate cancer are also forms of cancer that certain dogs can pick up on, by sniffing the urine of patients. - Colorectal cancer has been detected by dogs too, by sniffing patients’ exhaled breathing and their stool samples. - Ovarian tumors can be hit on, by sniffing patient tumor samples and blood samples. - Cervical cancer is also a type of cancer that a dog is capable of finding, by sniffing patient biopsy samples. Although this type of cancer detection is a long way from being fully trusted, it is just another example at how amazing dogs are. Hopefully one day our fur-legged friends will be able to detect diseased as well as they currently assist humans in various other things. 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Gianna was so helpful with the purchase of our new puppy! So glad we went with Petland! Posted on Google Samuel Pellechio (C and S Plumbing of Lee) Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Tyler and Gianna were an absolute joy to work with and helped us pick out our newest lil angel Posted on Google Elmer Edmonson Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Gianna and the whole team at Pet Land was awesome and made the purchase process seamless! They took the time to explain every question we had and we got the puppy of our dreams! Can’t thank Gianna and Pet Land Ft Myers enough !!! Posted on Google Isabella Simon Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Alyssa was absolutely amazing in helping us find our new puppy!!! I’m so happy and I couldn’t have asked for someone better to help us during this experience!! Posted on Google Kelly Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had such a wonderful experience at Petland! From the moment we walked in, Alyssa was so welcoming, helpful, and patient with us. She took the time to answer all of our questions and made the entire process of bringing our new puppy home feel so special. Our puppy is absolutely adorable and already feels like such an important part of our family. We’re so grateful for Alyssa at Petland who helped make this experience so memorable. Thank you for helping us find our newest little family member! Highly recommend Petland to anyone looking to add a furry friend to their family. Posted on Google Lexi Dosh Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fantastic 1 hour thats it Alyssa was wonderful!!!! Posted on Google Jorge Garcia Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We buy a German Shepers and we received an amazing help from Sophia Ann we recomended 100% Posted on Google Lorena Lora Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We got a German shepherd and they helped us so much with the items we need (Sophia was the one that helped us) Posted on Google Jill Corya Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had such a wonderful experience with Petland and especially Alicia! From start to finish, Alicia made the entire process of bringing home our new Golden Retriever so easy and enjoyable. She was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, patient, and answered every question we had. We never felt rushed, and she made sure we felt completely comfortable and prepared before bringing our new girl home. We are absolutely in love with our new Golden and couldn’t be happier! 🐾💛 Thank you, Alicia, for making such a special experience for our family even better. We highly recommend asking for her if you’re looking for your new best friend! ```