"Breast and lung cancer have been confirmed in people who are already diagnosed by conventional testing methods by trained dogs using their highly sensitive nose in research studies. Our canine companions are still not officially used in clinical detection but with further positive research this would be a likelihood.”, says veterinarian and ANKC spokesman Dr Peter Higgins.

Studies undertaken in the United Kingdom, the USA, and Canada took a large group of people, half with a certain type of cancer, and half without to conduct the tests. Dogs were trained to signal by sitting or lying down when they smell a person’s breath who they suspect has cancer. Success rates were extremely high, with up to 97 percent of cases being successfully reconfirmed by the dogs.

Anecdotal evidence of dogs having this ability has been rumoured by dog owners for decades. In the past, people have sought medical advice because their pet dog has taken an unusual interest in a particular mole on their skin, or provided signs to compel owners to visit the doctor to check.

“This represents a less invasive form of detection, and a quick and efficient way of helping to confirm early detection of cancer. Conventional tests aren’t always 100 per cent accurate, so this provides another means of confirming test results to allow greater scope for early intervention.”, believes Dr Higgins.