Dog Health Questions: Has anyone ever heard of dogs trained to smell blood sugar changes in a diabetic?

My aunt was wondering about this. Her daughter or someone heard about these dogs who are trained to alert someone who may be at risk of low blood sugar.

From Simple Dogs to Guard Dogs - How Guard Dog Training is Done?

Recommended Answer:
It's the cover story on this month's Diabetes Forecast magazine. You can also find lots of information by doing a web search on "diabetic assistance dogs". It's fascinating stuff.

Dog Obedience Schools: 4 Tips For Choosing The Right Dog Training Schools

• Yes, there are places that train them for that. Sometimes the family pet will alert on them, but it isn't very common. This type of dog would be considered a service dog.


• They do have these dogs. They are highly trained service dogs and cost a lot of money.


• Queens University in England is studying this. Quote from their site: There is folk knowledge that supports the idea that dogs have this ability, sometimes being able to predict when episodes of low blood sugar will occur. However, there is very little scientific data to support these claims, so the scientists are hoping to collect data that will confirm or refute these stories.


• My grandma has one! They are very intelligent! i love her! She is a geman sheperd casue its her fav. dog..So Yeah..


• I have seen them on TV but I believe those dogs are just gifted and special.It's not something they are trained to do though.
  I have seen some dogs that know if a person is about to have a seizure.


• Yes, there are dogs trained for this...see the following websites:
  
  www.heavenscentpaws.com
  
  www.allpurposecanines.com/alert.html
  
  However, with proper medical care and diet, most people with diabetes can do fine without such a dog.


• Nope. I've heard of dogs sensing seizures, but not blood sugar changes


• Yes. The Diabetes Forcast Mag. has an article about it. My Beagle has started picking up when my father's BG is too high or low. The dog will smell his breath and if he acting lethargic or strange the dog will pounce on his chest or run around upset looking for another family member. Somehow the dog picked this up. My dad has trouble telling his highs and lows and does not do a good job keeping is BG levels good. When the dog does pounce on him or runs to someone else we know my dad needs to test. And so far the dog has been right everytime.


• Dang, and I've been prickin' my frikkin' fingers all this time!!
  
  How does the dog give the digital readout? # of barks?