As the availability of COVID-19 tests dwindle across Canada, another option to detect the virus in the form of a furry friend may be the next best thing.
Multiple studies show that dogs can be more effective, faster and potentially less expensive than the current tests on the market.
The research has grown since 2020, with University of California Santa Barbara professor Tommy Dickey finding the collective research shows trained scent dogs are “as effective and often more effective” than both the rapid antigen tests many people keep in their homes, and even the PCR tests deployed at clinics and hospitals.
But even with studies showing their effectiveness, COVID-19-detecting dogs are deployed only in certain jurisdictions in various countries.
One such place is the Canines for Care program at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), which started looking into the possibility of training dogs to detect COVID-19 in early 2021.
Dr. Marthe Charles, division head of medical microbiology and infection prevention and control at VCH, said the idea stemmed from the early reliance on laboratory testing.
“I think there was a will from public health at the time and also from the various levels of government to try to find a way that was fast, accurate and non-invasive to be able to detect and train as many people as possible,” Charles told Global News in an interview.
Three dogs — two Labrador retrievers and an English springer spaniel — were brought in for training. The dogs were exposed to items such as masks that were worn by patients either negative or positive for the virus. This trained the dogs to recognize what is and is not COVID-19.
Charles said the dogs were trained since being puppies to associate the scent of COVID-19 with food and were rewarded each time they correctly detected a positive case of the virus.
“So from early on in their lives, they’ve associated the scent of a case of COVID to a rewarding scent,” she explained.
This reward method is not just used by VCM. It was also used with a group of dogs sourced in early 2021 for a French study, trained at detection using toys — usually tennis balls — as rewards.
Dr. Carla Simon, owner of Hunter’s Heart Scent Detection Canines in Calgary, said this method of training dogs is common. By using rewards, it can help motivate them to find the scent.
“We would pair, let’s say, the sweat samples with COVID, with their reward, and they notice that every time they find their reward, there’s that special smell,” she explained. “We just have to make it rewarding for the dog.”
She added, however, that the dog chooses the reward so trainers can ensure the canines “show up every day and want to do their job.”
Earlier this month, Dickey along with Heather Junqueira of BioScent, Inc. gathered several peer-reviewed studies into a review that was published in the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. Dickey said the number of peer-reviewed studies over the past few years went from four to 29, incorporating the work of more than 400 scientists from more than 30 countries and 31,000 samples.
The review noted the effectiveness of dogs’ ability to detect COVID-19 comes down to their noses.
“The nose is not like humans,” Simon said. “It’s massively different, orders of magnitude different, and they can detect things without us being able to smell them.”
Humans have about five to six million olfactory receptors in their noses, while dogs have hundreds of millions. One-third of their brain is devoted to the interpretation of smell — something only five per cent of a human’s brain is committed to, according to Dickey’s review.
The study found dogs’ noses may even be able to detect pre-symptomatic COVID-19 cases, or even those who will develop symptoms later.
Dickey told us in an interview that this could help limit or stop the virus from spreading.
“The longer the wait is between your test and your result, that’s a latent period,” he said. “During that time you’re running around spreading COVID and you don’t know it. The dogs with a direct sniff will be done in seconds.”
Many of the studies conducted, including the work at VCH through the Canine for Care program, have shown dogs’ ability to detect the disease correctly with a success rate of more than 90 per cent. Additionally, the studies also showed a high speed at which the dogs could identify cases. In one study in Thailand, researchers reported the dogs had gone through thousands of samples in just a few weeks.
“The dogs take only one to two seconds to detect the virus per sample. Once they detect a patient, they will sit down,” said Chulalongkorn University professor Kaywalee Chatdarong, who led the 2021 project. “This takes only one to two seconds. Within one minute, they can manage to go through 60 samples.”
Even though the research suggested deploying scent-detection dogs could also be less expensive than rapid or PCR tests, Charles cautioned the logistics that go into training the dog is where it becomes “more prohibitive.”
In VCH’s case, training of the dogs included the medical microbiology lab to provide samples for use, working with infection prevention teams and control nurses, and if a dog identifies an area of concern, cleaning services may need to be utilized. And when it comes to rolling out testing using the dogs, enough staffing is needed for mass screening.
Despite this, while Charles says deploying the dogs widely could be difficult due to staffing and training, they are still one of several tools that can be used in COVID-19 detection.
“I think the way to see those dogs from my perspective is really like another tool in the toolbox and trying to prevent further transmission of pathogen of concern,” she said.
Dickey and Junqueira say dogs should have a place in “serious diagnostic methodology” including in helping should the world face a future pandemic.
Endearing Dedication: Pup Remains Loyal on Porch Despite Desertion, Inspiring Empathy and Deepening Family Bonds
Few things are as unjust as when a dog ends up in the care of irresponsible and selfish owners. Dogs shower their families with unconditional love, and it’s truly disheartening when this affection is met with selfishness and indifference.
In this heartrending tale, a beautiful pup named Cupid experienced heartbreak when his family decided to relocate and left him behind. Cupid watched in confusion as his beloved family packed their belongings, loaded their car, and drove away, leaving him behind without an explanation.
All he knew was that this place had been his home, and perhaps, if he waited patiently, his family would return. Fortunately, a compassionate neighbor took notice and contacted Janine Guido, the founder of Speranza Animal Rescue, after seeing Cupid sleeping alone on the porch.
“All I was told was that his owners moved out and left him behind,” Guido recounted. She tried approaching Cupid, but he retreated to his safe haven. She watched as he desperately jumped and scratched at the front door, almost pleading to be let back inside. Witnessing this broke Guido’s heart, and she felt a deep urge to help him.
Guido attempted to offer food to gain Cupid’s trust, but he only ran away. After a 30-minute chase, Guido found the right words to calm him down and reassure him. It may sound strange, but Guido swears that Cupid understood her. Finally, he allowed her to leash him.
“On the ride home, she continued to tell him what was happening, as he understood her,” the story unfolds. “He has been nothing but the sweetest gentleman since coming to the rescue. You can tell he’s still really confused. But he is happy to meet everyone with a wagging tail.”
In due time, Cupid will be ready to embark on the search for a forever family. While it’s disheartening to think about people abandoning their pets, it’s heartwarming to know that there are dedicated individuals like Guido working tirelessly to ensure these mistreated animals receive the love and care they deserve.
Once Cupid finds his forever family, he’ll be in the company of those who truly appreciate and reciprocate his affection.
If you ever come across a situation like this, providing a dog with food, water, and temporary shelter while seeking professional help is a compassionate gesture. However, it’s crucial to involve experts who can secure the dog’s long-term well-being and determine the best course of action.
Remember, every animal deserves love, care, and a safe environment. By reaching out to the appropriate authorities, you can play a vital role in ensuring that abandoned dogs receive the care and compassion they require and, hopefully, find a loving forever home where they’ll never face abandonment again.
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