Disease-Sensing Dogs to Save Human Life

Recently there has been a lot of attention focusing on canine pets that alert owners with serious diseases before they become extremely ill.

An example of this is Shirley the Labrador. Shirley saved a six-year-old child with type 1 diabetes from collapsing at a disco. Rebecca was dancing with her friends when Shirley detected that Rebecca's blood sugar was dropping. The Lab then proceeded to take the blood sugar testing kit out of her owner's medical bag to warn Rebecca. By being trained to do so Shirley, who is one of only ten dogs that are capable of detecting blood sugar, saved Rebecca from collapsing from low blood sugar.

Research into using canines to help people with illnesses will also give many dogs a second chance in life. Eddie, a three year old terrier cross was abandoned at a rescue centre in Sheffield as his owners had found him to be too high energy for them. However this was the exact trait Eddie needed to become a huge help for Andrew Eccle. Eddie has been trained to warn Andrew, who is epileptic, when he's about to have a seizure. This is to give Andrew the chance to make sure he is somewhere safe to wait for the seizures to pass without hurting himself or his daughter.

There is no concrete evidence to show how the dog is able to predict when a seizure is about to occur but there are a few theories including that the dog may be able to sense disturbances in the electric field which is caused by seizures.

Sheffield Support Dogs is currently the only charity in the UK that train dogs to predict seizures. This training costs the charity £10,000 per dog which is raised purely through donations.

New approach to change dog laws

Veterinary professionals and animal welfare groups are demanding a new Dog Control Bill to replace the Dangerous Dogs Act which has been frequently criticised.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, amended in 1997, was introduced after the tabloids hugely publicised injuries caused by various dogs. This act focuses on four breeds, the Pit Bull Terrier included, making it illegal to sell, breed or exchange dogs and making sure they are muzzled and on a lead in public.

The act received much criticism as it only enforces laws on specific breeds and not the owners. These laws have not reduced the amount of dog bite incidents, which have increased by 43% in the UK. Not only do the bite incidents continue to increase but so does the cost. In the past three years the Metropolitan Police have spent ten million pound to take, kennel and euthanise the banned breeds. Even so, some dog owners receive their dogs back after it has been proven that the individual dog has exhibited good behaviour.

The new Dog Control Bill was proposed by Liberal Democrats peer Lord Redesdale and is supported by members of the Dangerous Dogs Act Study Group. This Bill will keep the public safer as it targets the responsibilities of the dog owner as it has been proven that the temperament of a breed is only a small factor resulting in how it behaves. Also the Bill would make dog attacks on private properties a criminal offense as this is where the majority of attacks take place.

The Dangerous Dogs Act Study Group have begun a petition supporting the Dog Control Bill which has already received over 10,000 signatures.

Travelling With Your Dog

Make sure your dog has a good walk before the journey begins. If your dog hasn't released enough energy before starting the journey then he will be extremely excited and cause you much more trouble. Give your dog at least 30 minutes exercise and he will be much calmer as he gets into the car and may even sleep as you travel.

1. Use a seat belt harness for your dog. This will not only make you both much safer if you have an accident but will also stop your dog from jumping around the car while you are trying to drive. A seat belt harness gives the dog enough space to move from lying down to standing up so will not make your dog panic at being restricted.

2. Be prepared if your dog is travel sick. Go to your veterinary and purchase tablets for a travel sick dog and follow the instructions to have a happier dog. If you have a dog that is scared to go into the car then invite him into the car using treats or his favourite toys while the car isn't moving. This will make your dog associate the car with a positive experience and is more likely to be calmer through the journey. You should practice this from at least a month before you go travelling with your dog.

3. Take plenty of water with you. This is even more important if it is a hot day as a car becomes very hot extremely quickly. Water is an essential at all times when travelling with your dog so make sure that you have enough for the journey there and back.

4. Take regular breaks. When you are travelling long distances, your dog is going to get understandably bored. You should stop travelling after every 2-3 hours to give your dog a short walk and let him stretch his legs. Doing this will make your dog much happier and your journey calmer.

Thorough preparation before any journey is essential to guarantee a pleasant and safe journey for you both.