Hypo Dogs to the Rescue!
Sunday February 17, 2008
Hypoglycemia alert dogs are a new way to protect yourself from dangerous lows or highs in blood glucose levels. Instances where dogs could be invaluable are when the person with diabetes has hypoglycemic unawareness and can't feel when an episode is coming on, or in the case of a child who is sleeping or too young to tell his or her parents that something is wrong.
Dogs are being trained, much like other detection assistance dogs, to become sensitive to their owner's glucose levels. They have the ability to warn their owners even before symptoms of hypoglycemia are felt. The theory is that people who have rising or falling blood glucose levels give off a different scent than when their blood sugars are normal. The dog, with it's keen sense of smell, can pick up the changes often before the first symptom is felt.
There are a few volunteer-run groups in the United States that do train hypoglycemic assistance dogs. There are organizations in other countries that also train them. Mainly they service people with type 1 diabetes, both kids and adults.
A few I found on the internet are:
Photo courtesy of Meg Takamura/Getty Images
Comments
I just wanted to say Hooray! I personally have a dog trained by Dogs4Diabetics, and she has saved my life many a time since I got her a year and a half ago.
Invaluable, especially for those with T1DM and have Hypoglycemia Unawareness in addition to living alone.
Your comments about alert dogs is just wonderful and we appreciate that our organisation, Paws for Diabetics Inc is mentioned. However, I would like to make it clear that the dogs are just as effective for Type 2 diabetics as they are for Type 1, as the hypos and hypers work much the same way. Many of our clients are Type 2, as all can become hypo-unaware over a period of time. We are very proud of our dogs, they do a remarkable job of allowing their handlers a better quality of life and management of their diabetes.
we have an alert puppy in training and you can see him figuring it out already, it’s amazing! there is another awesome organization called pawsibilities unleashed in kentucky that trains dogs for all disabilities. i’ have never heard anything bad about dogs for diabetics either. and i think there is another one called beth eden kennels. and they raise really good dogs from puppyhood. watch out for hsp though, they are in the middle of a major lawsuit with several of the families that donated thousands of dollars and never got dogs that worked and never got there money back. very sad. but do try one of the other orgs. it’s amazing to see a 6 month old dog go and get the ketone strips when your 8 year oldis high and the glucose tabs when she is low. it helps keep everything in balance. and emotionally it is a great tool to help these peopel that live with this chronic and exaughsting disease. good luck on finding a great dog!
I was thrilled to hear about diabetes alert dogs, as I am a “brittle” insulin-dependent adult diabetic who no longer has symptoms of hypoglycemia.
However, I would like to train my own brilliant German Shepherd, who already is bonded with me and helps me, to monitor my blood glucose.
Does anyone know of a facility that offers training? Or any published materials?
I have all the service dog training books, but none mentions hypo alert training. And I can’t figure out how one would train for this.
Any help is welcome! Thanks.
I, too, would like to train my very smart and attentive Australian Shepherd to detect hypoglycemia.
Please let me know if there is any info about how to train him.
I have a lab puppy that I would like to train to be a glucose dog. Is there any books/manuals out there to help me? I don’t want to go to a group. I want to train it myself. Thanks!
I just want to say , We really need one since my husband has stated insulin, but he is type 2 and I do not see any available in our State. (NY)
I too have a very smart, very bonded dog with a great nose and I have been searching for help to train my own dog for 3 years. A few centers were only willing to help train IF the dog you have is already alerting (I wonder why would I need help in that case.?) As of today I have found no one willing to share the sequences, and we all know the “steps” are the necessary building blocks. There are a zillion books on how to train for everything else, why hasn’t someone put this topic in book form? -Ann
I have been IDDM since 1968, I now have a 19yr old son with diabetes as well. I was given an english staffy bitch 3yr ago & since she was 3mnths old- Bundy has alerted me b4 I actually go low bsl. I owe her everything. She is everything 2 me. Bundy awakens me at nite 2 tell me I’m not well. When I walk her during the day she tells me. Now I need 2 have her recognised as assistance dog, but, am unfinancial & don’t know who 2 contact 4 help. Any 1 who can help, please advise me. Thanking you all, Jane