May 19, 2008
Hypoglycemic Alert Dogs
Have you ever heard of a dog that could sense when blood sugar is dropping to an unsafe level? They are called Hypoglycemic Alert Dogs and they are changing lives.
The March 2008 issue of Diabetes Forecast, the consumer magazine of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), features an article about assistance dogs that are trained to sense episodes of human hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose, and sound a life-saving alert.
According to the article, these dogs seem to sense a dangerous drop in blood glucose before it begins, allowing the people they work with to prevent an episode altogether. Some dogs seem to sense high blood glucose, too. Mark Ruefenacht is a forensic scientist with type 1 diabetes who started a hypoglycemia alert dog training center in California and has been placing trained dogs with people who need them for three years.
“Clients are coming back saying, ‘I have never had better control of my blood sugar in my life as I have since I got this dog.’”
Scientists remain unsure about how the dogs are able to sense changes in their human companions. It is believed that the dogs are reacting to scents created by chemical changes related to glucose imbalance, but no one knows exactly which chemicals cause the scent. Despite this scientific uncertainty, hypoglycemia alert dogs have provided a great sense of relief to people with diabetes and their families, including parents of young children with diabetes and adults whose history of hypoglycemic episodes made it difficult or even dangerous to live alone.
Currently, there are only a few groups in the United States that are training assistance dogs to sense hypoglycemia. The training requires years of expensive work, which severely limits the number of people who can be paired with dogs. For those who do get the chance, however, the benefit can be remarkable.
“The first time that dog gets you up in the middle of the night because your child is dropping into a serious low, rapidly you realize it’s worth every penny you spent, and every minute you had to wait,” says Donna Cope, whose child has diabetes.
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Bob Hawkinson
August 16, 2008 at 8:23 pm
so would that would truly be a Cgms….Canine glucose monitoring system
Casandra
September 15, 2008 at 10:03 am
They react to two different things. The dogs are usually breeds that are very loyal and spend every waking moment attached to their owner, such as the Dobermann. They spend every extra second focused on you and the instant you begin to show signs of a low, such as the pick up in breathing or the slightest beads of sweat forming, they will see it. They can detect the acetone scent produced on your breath when your blood sugar begins to rise.
Its rather complicated, but I am in the midst of training my own Dobermann pup. He’s got to go through a lot of training, all the basic stuff from sit/stay up to learning to brace once he’s fully grown. There’s so much to do, so many scent and hiding games to play, so little time!
Linda
September 23, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I am a Type 1 Diabetic, and have a Jack Russell Terrier that can detect my low blood sugars. My doctor recommended that I try to get my dog certified, due to the fact that I have hypoglycemia intolerance and do not know my sugars are low until I am in my 30’s or lower. As of yet, I have not been able to locate a program that is willing to further train my dog to become a certified hypoglycemia alert dog. Can anyone offer me any information on this matter?
Katharine
November 14, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I am very interested in finding out how I can get one of these dogs! Is there a website that can give me more info?? Thank you so much. This sounds like it would be a blessing
Casandra
November 17, 2008 at 5:26 am
There are several organizations in the USA that will help unite you with an animal that would suit your personality and needs best. Heaven Scent Paws is one org, but I’ve heard mixed reviews about these people, I wouldn’t trust them.
My Dobermann puppy is being trained for the task of alerting, but he’s been alerting me to my seizures and low blood sugars since the day I met him at 10 weeks old. I am training him myself, and with the aid of a charity in the UK, I’m going to have him certified.
Mark Disbrow
November 25, 2008 at 5:05 pm
On 3 Jan 2009 my daughter will be a Type 1 diabetic for two years. She has just been evaluated to receive a pump and we will start training in Jan 09 for that. I just bought her a male long-haired german shepherd this past summer and am trying to decide if it is worth training him in detecting hypoglicemia/ic.
Any and all recommendations are well appreciated.
Amy
November 30, 2008 at 6:45 pm
My husband and I adopted Moe, a Jack Russell from the Humane Society last Christmas. He has sensed three times that blood sugar was low while I was sleeping. He did it again this morning…he usually sleeps with us, but this morning he stayed with me while my husband got up, after a few hours with me, he started to bark. Dave came in the room and Moe was snout to face with me. He looked at Dave, then at me and barked. David got me some glucose gel and I was ok. Moe got a treat and Dave got a kiss. We knew we adopted a good dog, but didn’t realize how special he was until his firt sensing of my low blood sugar.
Dawn
July 2, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I love my Jack Russell!! He is not certified, but like your Moe, he will go and get my husband when I am sleeping – he can sense my hypoglycemia. He is priceless!!! Very intellegent dogs aren’t they!!
Ken
November 30, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Wow, Amy that is amazing. I assume that Moe was a trained hypoglycemic sensing dog? Also Jack Russell terriers are very smart dogs so looks like you picked a great friend.
Glad to hear you’re ok.
Mark Disbrow
December 1, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Amy, I’m glad that Moe did what he was suppose to do and that you are okay. Thanks for the encouraging words.
I have been counducting some research on the internet on how dogs are taught to detect hypoglycemia/ic and have come up empty. I know they have a keen sense of smell but how do you train the dog to sit or bark or go get someone if you are having an extreme low/high. What device do you train the dog with that equals to the smell of hypoglycemia/ic? Thanks for any and all help…
Amy
December 2, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Hi Ken
Moe is not trained….his nose knows.
Elizabeth
December 15, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I have a two year old female lurcher (whippet X) who from the day I brought her home at 8 weeks has alerted me to hypo’s. I have since got another lurcher (male) who she has trained to alert me, so now I have two dogs and therefore cannot ignore their signals. I was interested in Casandra’s comment about a UK based training organisation as I live in the UK and have tried unsucessfully to get my dog acreditied as an asistance dog.
Casandra
December 17, 2008 at 4:54 am
My Dobe is doing excellent, guys. He’s just finished 1st in puppy class in the show ring, and he’s started to learn how to do various tasks like lying down by me when I have a hypo or going to fetch another human when I have a seizure.
Elizabeth, The charity in the UK that I would like to have train Aidyn is called Dog Aid,
http://www.dogaid.org.uk/
They’re really nice people, and will help you through fundraising and everything ^_^
George
December 29, 2008 at 11:02 am
Through extended research I have found a few places that train these amazing animals. Service Dogs for America in Judd, ND; Amazing Tails in PA, Dogs4Diabetics in Concord, CA, BethEden Kennels in Canyon, TX, Heaven Scent Paws in MO (the Missouri Attorney general launched 16 lawsuits for fraud against them so I would stay away from these people); All Purpose Canines; another place in Kentucky but I forget the name.
I have a hypo alerting dog (Golden Retriever) and he is absolutely amazing.
One thing you must know before deciding to get one of these animals is that the training will never stop. You must keep the dog trained and refreshed on a very regular basis. Many people don’t bother with the continuous training then complain that their dog is not performing.
Elizabeth
January 9, 2009 at 11:56 am
Thank you for your help Cassandra. I have tried them they were very helpful but I have since come across an organisation who train cancer alert dogs who also do Hypo alert dogs and will be able to get my dogs registered faster. All these groups are great.
Mark Disbrow
January 9, 2009 at 2:11 pm
George,
Thanks for the US info.
In reference to your last paragraph – how do you, as an individual owner of a service dog, provide training or refresher training on hypoglycemia/mic to your pet?
Sally Jane
January 21, 2009 at 3:15 pm
All Purpose Canines http://www.allpurposecanines.com phone: 605-225-1131
Canine Partners for Life http://www.k94life.org phone: 610-869-4902
Dogs 4 Diabetics http://www.dogs4diabetics.com phone: 925-246-5785
Heaven Scent Paws http://www.heavenscentpaws.com phone: 573-493-2627
shirley
February 21, 2009 at 12:14 am
i trained my dog to let me know when i have low blood sugar i just checked my blood sugar a lot of times during the day for about 3 months when my blood sugar was low i had my dog smell me and had her pat me and hit me with her hed and she licks me till i gheck my blood sugar .
Angela
March 5, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Hello All… Thank you for sharing your comments. My 14 year old has had his first seizure and i am interested in an alert dog. I’m told the waiting list is astronomical. Any suggestions on getting my own dog (breed, etc) and how to train it properly would be greatly appreciated!
Angela
JJ Upton
March 6, 2009 at 10:36 am
Hi Angela,
I know of a person that may be able to help you. Her name is Julie Noyes. She trains diabetic alert dogs. I think her web page is alertservicedogs.com I believe she is very knowledgeable as she works for FEMA. Apart from training diabetic alert dogs, she also trains search and rescue dogs and cadaver dogs. She was deployed to ground zero in the world trade centers, as well as New Orleans for hurricane Katrina with her search and rescue dogs. Her Cadaver dog is one of a few in the U.S. And the best part is she has several training options that can GREATLY reduce your cost. I do not believe her waiting list is long at all.
Best of luck to you,
JJ
Kalina
March 11, 2009 at 4:51 am
Well, I can’t remember what I was trying to look up when I saw this page and clicked on it, but was a little surprised to see a picture of one of my favorite (what I describe as “reserved”) doggies, Armstrong! I live in the Bay Area of California and was lucky enough to be accepted by Dogs for Diabetics to attend their classes and be trained how to handle one of their service dogs for detecting hypoglycemia. If anyone else from the San Francisco Bay Area has reached this page and are both a type 1 experiencing unpredictable lows and looking for service dogs that might be able to help, I would recommend contacting D4D for more information. (Sally has posted their contact information above)