Nose sniffs out cancer: dog

1 of 2 gordon_setter_portrait.jpg / Adam Ziaja / License

The noses of some domestic dogs can detect some forms of cancer in humans via an acute sense of smell.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Process information >
	Sense signals/environmental cues >
	Disease

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Portable cancer detection devices, particularly for use in remote locations.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"In the course of some bibliographical research during the early 1990s, Dr. Armand Cognetta, a dermatologist based in Florida, was surprised to discover in the medical literature a number of confirmed cases in which patients had been found to possess hitherto-unsuspected skin cancers that were detected after their pet dogs (usually for several months before the diagnosis) had been compulsively sniffing the area of skin containing the malignancy. Indeed, in each case it had been the behavior of the dog that had finally prompted the owner to seek medical advice in order to find out why their pet was acting so strangely." (Shuker 2001:227)

About the inspiring organism

gray wolf
Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758
[Wolf]

Some organism data provided by: ITIS: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Portable cancer detection devices, particularly for use in remote locations.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Medical

References

Shuker, KPN. 2001. The Hidden Powers of Animals: Uncovering the Secrets of Nature. London: Marshall Editions Ltd. 240 p.

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Curator of this page

bandoy
Occupation: College/University Educator
Location: Calauan, Philippines

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Comments

See this article, "The Secret of Dog's Sniffer": http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi...

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