In dogs we trust

[Vicsetter]

Ian Hamilton investigates the use of dogs for diagnosing illness (including diabetes), tonight at 7:30 on BBC1 (Scotland).

 

[Caroline]

sounds intersting, dogs are amazing creatures. I am not a doggy person myself but I do know dogs cand detect illness and things like hypos and we have hearing and seeing dogs for the deaf and blind so hlpe give poeple their independence and dignity and in some cases even a reason for living and to go out regulalrly

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Why would you need a dog to diagnose diabetes? A simple blood test does that

 

[Caroline]

Why would you need a dog to diagnose diabetes? A simple blood test does that

I don't think you need the dog to diagnose diabetes, but they can somehow sense when people are about to hypo, even before the hypo starts. My friend had a dog that warned her when she was about to have a seizure and she was able to put her self in a position of saftey till it had passed.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I don't think you need the dog to diagnose diabetes, but they can somehow sense when people are about to hypo, even before the hypo starts. My friend had a dog that warned her when she was about to have a seizure and she was able to put her self in a position of saftey till it had passed.

Most dogs will do that you just have to recognise their way of telling you 🙂
All three of my dogs over the years would hint quite loudly that it was really time to treat a hypo.
My last dog was unique in the fact he was hypo aware and also fully aware of my Addison's needs. He went as far as to go from the house one morning to the local farm (My landlord) and insist he came back with him as Mum needed help.

 

[Twitchy]

Most dogs will do that you just have to recognise their way of telling you 🙂
All three of my dogs over the years would hint quite loudly that it was really time to treat a hypo.
My last dog was unique in the fact he was hypo aware and also fully aware of my Addison's needs. He went as far as to go from the house one morning to the local farm (My landlord) and insist he came back with him as Mum needed help.

What a fab dog! Must have been a very reassuring chap to have around. 🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

What a fab dog! Must have been a very reassuring chap to have around. 🙂

Oh he was fantastic, broke my heart when he died last year :tears:

 

[bev]

Most dogs will do that you just have to recognise their way of telling you 🙂
All three of my dogs over the years would hint quite loudly that it was really time to treat a hypo.
My last dog was unique in the fact he was hypo aware and also fully aware of my Addison's needs. He went as far as to go from the house one morning to the local farm (My landlord) and insist he came back with him as Mum needed help.

Hi Sue,

One of the parents off the CWD list is on the programme with her son Steven and dog Molly.🙂They had to go through quite an extensive training regime and the dog has to be matched to the child/adult as they have to have a chemistry together. I dont know the full ins and outs of training but I know it is taken quite seriously and another family sadly had to give up on a dog as the dog wouldnt fully comply. When the dogs are 'working' they cant interact with others or other dogs. Molly sleeps in Stevens bedroom and at the first hint of a hypo (dogs can smell the change) she goes and gets the test kit and Stevens mum and wont rest until she sees Steven has had treatment.

Your dogs sound amazing.🙂Bev

 

[novorapidboi26]

I wouldn't imagine there would be many folk that need a dog to help with hypo awareness.......like only if there was an unexplained reason for not being able to regain awareness.....

Is there?

 

[bev]

I wouldn't imagine there would be many folk that need a dog to help with hypo awareness.......like only if there was an unexplained reason for not being able to regain awareness.....

Is there?

Hi novorapidboi26,

Unfortunately many adults and children have no hypo awareness at all. My friends daughter (13) can be 1.7 and still chatting with no symptoms and doesnt feel a thing! I know quite a few the same. I dont know how you regain awareness other than running yourself higher for a while but I know many who have tried and it doesnt work - there doesnt seem to be a way of triggering it.🙂Bev

 

[novorapidboi26]

Hi novorapidboi26,

Unfortunately many adults and children have no hypo awareness at all. My friends daughter (13) can be 1.7 and still chatting with no symptoms and doesnt feel a thing! I know quite a few the same. I dont know how you regain awareness other than running yourself higher for a while but I know many who have tried and it doesnt work - there doesnt seem to be a way of triggering it.🙂Bev

That must make life pretty scary.............😱

what do the docs have to say?

 

[trophywench]

What do the docs say?

Not a lot NRB. Apart from the runing higher thing which TG seems to work a lot of the time.

It's another of those QI answers 'Nobody knows .....'

I spose much the same as why did I get T1 and Big Sis didn't? Exactly which genes and who from?

 

[Ellie Jones]

My two have been awarded the PDSA Gold Medal (Animal's George Cross) for devotion to duty and bravery...

They got this not only because they warn us of hypo's, and not just because they saved Les's life which is all part of the award, nor that they overcome issues they had at the time, these are all part of it, but the actions and how they carried them out, showed not just extreme intelligence but a ability to interact and work together in an manner never heard of in animals and pretty unique according to the PDSA chief Vet...

Bev,

We looked into the training to give Ellie and Jones official Assistance dog status, but sadly due to Jones will always bare the mental scars of the cruelty and neglect he faced before we adopted him, even though he's come a very long way since, he still won't allow strangers to stroke or make a fuss of him, he shy's away.

When they were presented with their medals in October, I was in tears during the ceremony, as Jones is a very different dog than he was when I first adopted him 3 years ago... Then to take him outside I had to use a D.A.P spray on a bandanna, just to take enough edge of his flight mode to start a very long process of building his confidence levels up....

Seeing Jones, cope with being in a very crowed room full of strangers, and strutting down Euston road with his tail waving in the air, was something that I never dreamt was possible in my wildest dreams in the early days... There were many times I thought I would have to resort to doggy prozac to even give him a basic quality of life..

 

[bev]

Hi Ellie,

Your dogs certainly are loyal - you must be so proud of them and their awards. I think I must have missed this as I dont recall a thread about it?🙂Bev

 

[Ellie Jones]

Bev

Yes so very proud of them, and they mean the absolute world to us...

It was a no expense spared top notch Ceremony at the Lincoln's inn Old Hall, Joanne Page did the introductions, sadly Princess Alexandria was to present the Medal's but sadly had to pull out at the last minute doctors orders.

Over the summer, we had a photo and video shot for the Ceremony and the Programs. We also appeared on This Morning the day afterwards, where we also got to meet Madness As they were appearing on the show as well.

Here's a link to us on the PDSA website http://www.pdsa.org.uk/about-us/media-pr-centre/news/1325_pdsa-gold-medals-awarded

The PDSA also sent Jones and Ellie a signed copy of their newly published book of The Animals' VC by David Long, It's the history of the Dicken's medal but Ellie and Jones, get a mention under the PDSA Gold Medal's (last chapter/Appendix)

The PDSA told us this time last year, that they were going to be awarded the Top Honour the Gold Medal, but we weren't allowed to utter a word, only allowed to mention it to close family and friends. Until after the ceremony.... Believe me that was soooo hard as all you want to do is shout it across the roof tops, and you can't😱

 

[bev]

Hi Ellie,

Aah - what a lovely story and wonderful dogs. I do hope Les takes his hypo treatment with him now though! I am going to put this on the CWD list - they will love it.🙂Bev

 

[Vicsetter]

Interesting program, Ian Hamilton is blind and has an Alsation for a guide dog. One of the parents he was talking to had a T1 child whose dog goes nuts and fetches his glucose meter when he is going low. He also spoke to a scientist who is testing dogs to detect cancer by the smell of their urine.

 

[Ellie Jones]

Vicsetter, Ian Hamilton guide dog isn't an Alsation it's a German Shepherd...

There is no such breed called an Alsation...

Prior to WW2, for the exact same reasons as the Royal Family changing their German Surname to Windsor for political disassociation purposes! The Alsation name was reverted back to it's proper German Shepherd name by the Kennel Club quite a long time ago.

In some ways I'm surprised that you don't find a lot more German Shepherd as Guide dogs, as it's the type of work in their remit... Can only assume that it's training side of things that's the cause of it.. As training and handling wise, they are are a lot different than other breeds.

Try training and handling them like a Labrador you'll going to end up with some serious problems...

 

[bennyg70]

Bev

Yes so very proud of them, and they mean the absolute world to us...

It was a no expense spared top notch Ceremony at the Lincoln's inn Old Hall, Joanne Page did the introductions, sadly Princess Alexandria was to present the Medal's but sadly had to pull out at the last minute doctors orders.

Over the summer, we had a photo and video shot for the Ceremony and the Programs. We also appeared on This Morning the day afterwards, where we also got to meet Madness As they were appearing on the show as well.

Here's a link to us on the PDSA website http://www.pdsa.org.uk/about-us/media-pr-centre/news/1325_pdsa-gold-medals-awarded

The PDSA also sent Jones and Ellie a signed copy of their newly published book of The Animals' VC by David Long, It's the history of the Dicken's medal but Ellie and Jones, get a mention under the PDSA Gold Medal's (last chapter/Appendix)

The PDSA told us this time last year, that they were going to be awarded the Top Honour the Gold Medal, but we weren't allowed to utter a word, only allowed to mention it to close family and friends. Until after the ceremony.... Believe me that was soooo hard as all you want to do is shout it across the roof tops, and you can't😱

I know you posted on a thread I started about bailey the other day, but I have only just round to reading it in full.... That is truely remarkable. Im lost for words.

 

[Vicsetter]

Vicsetter, Ian Hamilton guide dog isn't an Alsation it's a German Shepherd...

There is no such breed called an Alsation...

Prior to WW2, for the exact same reasons as the Royal Family changing their German Surname to Windsor for political disassociation purposes! The Alsation name was reverted back to it's proper German Shepherd name by the Kennel Club quite a long time ago.

In some ways I'm surprised that you don't find a lot more German Shepherd as Guide dogs, as it's the type of work in their remit... Can only assume that it's training side of things that's the cause of it.. As training and handling wise, they are are a lot different than other breeds.

Try training and handling them like a Labrador you'll going to end up with some serious problems...

Don't be so picky - theres always one.

For your education, have a look at the kennel club page for German Shepherd dogs, headed: "German Shepherd Dogs (Alsatian)" at http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=2864

Any comments on the program?