5 Diseases That Dogs Can Smell on You

It’s not that he likes you, it’s that you are very sick

Dogs sense of smell far outstrips our very human nasal capacities, that much is general knowledge. Just how much of a stinky world that opens up is interesting, though. Ill say that when I think about a dogs advanced sense of smell, I just assume that means they can smell chicken from farther away, or smell strawberries more or whatever. I think of it as the same olfactory music were hearing, just at a louder volume. 

But in reality, its more like theyre listening on a hi-fi while were using $10 CVS earbuds, and there are whole instruments we dont even know are playing. Some of these smells are probably best left unsniffed; some of them, though, would be highly useful to be able to pick up. For example, theres multiple medical maladies that have a trademark scent.

Here are five medical conditions that dogs seem able to smell…

Cancer

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Given that cancer is basically the big bad as far as human health goes, and how helpful early treatment is, dogs might be able to up their “mans best friend” reputation even higher. Its scientifically accepted that dogs do have the capability to smell cancer in people and in medical samples. They've earned that recognition through studies, and were rewarded, I assume, a copious amount of treats for a task they probably wont ever understand. 

Which might be part of the reason that its hard to put the knowledge to use: Without immediate positive reinforcement, an impossibility when the cancer isnt already known, or any idea of the stakes at play, the dogs just get bored.

Parkinson s

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Cancer might be a more widespread enemy, but the kind of fate that Parkinsons disease thrusts on victims is arguably more horrific. Cancer at least has the good grace to leave most patients mental faculties intact. Parkinsons is also a disease thats famously hard to diagnose. That said, recent studies show that dogs might just be able to beat classical medicine to the punch when it comes to detecting it. 

Of course, even if the studies bear out the best possible results, were still dealing with some pretty heavy baggage, given that Parkinsons is incurable. At best then, were just turning certain dogs into actual Black Shuck-style omens of death, which isnt too cuddly.

Diabetes

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To pull ourselves out of the pit of despair I just created (sorry!), lets look at a side of medical dog smell thats genuinely saving lives. Dogs are well aware of spikes or dips in their owners blood sugar, no blood drops required. They can smell differences in our breath and sweat, like an apparent fruity and sweet aroma created by high blood sugar

Thanks to this, diabetic alert dogs can call out possible blood sugar episodes before they occur.

Migraines

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I can wrap my head around the idea of blood sugar changing the smell of someones breath or sweat. After all, sugar is a smell I already know and can identify, having walked by a taffy shop or two on the beach. It’s much more surprising to me that migraines also have an odor — it’s not a subtle one for dogs either, as migraine alert dogs can smell an oncoming migraine on their owners breath as far as 48 hours beforehand

I hope they have those little barrels on their collars like St. Bernards do, except its filled with liquid Excedrin.

Narcolepsy

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Beyond migraines, another smell Id be very curious to get a whiff of is the apparent scent of an oncoming episode for narcoleptics. I’m imagining some sort of lavender-chamomile bouquet, like a sleep potion was just released in the room. Im sure thats wrong, but until a dog tells me otherwise, I choose to believe it. 

Narcolepsy service dogs are a real-life, existing thing, and they serve their purpose by notifying their owner that theyre about to suddenly fall asleep, so that they can lie down. Which I understand isnt funny. But also, is just the LITTLEST bit funny. Just imagine a dog feverishly barking at a chaise lounge and tell me Im wrong.

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