Doggie Nurses: 6 Ways They Work
By WebVet.com
The benefits of owning a dog are seemingly never-ending. They provide companionship, encourage physical fitness, brighten moods, introduce lovers -- even save you money. Oh, and they can also save your life. The Daily Mail identified six conditions for which canines can drastically improve the quality of a sufferer's existence. As if you needed any more proof that dogs are amazing.
DIABETES
Diabetes alert dogs are being used to alert type 1 diabetics that their blood sugar is too low and they are at risk of a dangerous "hypo." This can happen through not eating enough or from accidentally taking too much insulin, but some diabetics might not notice the warning signs, such as going pale and feeling shaky. A diabetes alert dog can detect a change in body odor that can indicate low blood sugar, says Dr Claire Guest, of the charity Medical Detection Dogs. "We train our dogs to lick, nudge and stare at someone having a hypo, to make sure the person knows they should fetch their medical kit."
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AUTISM
Dogs have been found to reduce anxiety and aggressive behavior in children with autism within a matter of weeks. Dogs for the Disabled has a program that helps train the family dog to help with an autistic child. They do things like teach the dog to put their head in the child's lap, which calms them down when they are distressed, as well as helping on outings when autistic children can sometimes wander off.
PAIN
The charity Paws for Comfort uses a dog breed called Xoloitzcuintli, also known as the Mexican hairless or Xolo, to help people with chronic pain brought on by conditions such as fibromyalgia. All dogs have a naturally high body temperature, but as the Xolo is virtually hairless it feels hotter to the touch. When these dogs snuggle up to their owners, their body warmth provides relief similar to that provided by a heating pad.
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DEMENTIA
Labradors and retrievers are being trained to prompt people with dementia to eat at mealtimes, take medicine, and take rest and sleep when needed. A study published recently in the Western Journal of Nursing Research found having a residential dog had helped reduce agitation in Alzheimer's patients and boosted social interaction.
EPILEPSY
Astonishingly, dogs can be trained to act as a warning system when someone is about to have a seizure. They can give as much as 40 minutes' notice -- plenty of time for someone to take medication to prevent the seizure or to get help. It is believed that dogs smell chemical changes in the body that take place before a seizure. Some dogs are trained to lie down next to the person having the seizure to stop them from moving and hurting themselves, or they may go and get help.
NARCOLEPSY
Narcolepsy causes sufferers suddenly to fall asleep as they go about their everyday routine. Theo, a cocker spaniel in the UK, has become the first dog in the world to be trained to wake up his owner, teenager Kelly Sears, when she has a sleeping fit. He licks and nudges her until she comes to -- and if he is unable to wake her will go and seek help. He is also learning to pick up on a change to Kelly's scent when an attack is imminent, so she can sit down.
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