Medical Detection Dogs approved for NHS trial
"Our dogs have higher rates of reliability than most of the existing tests. We know their sense of smell is extraordinary" - Dr Claire Guest, Medical Detection Dogs.
Dogs which have the remarkable ability to sniff-out cancer in humans have been approved for use in an NHS trial.
Medical Detection Dogs gained the approval from Milton Keynes University Hospital following an initial study which revealed that specially trained dogs can detect prostate tumours in urine in 93 per cent of cases.
It is hoped that canine testing will identify inaccuracies in the traditional Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test, which is used to determine if men need a biopsy. The test results are frequently "false positive," meaning that many men are unnecessarily referred for the invasive procedure.
Mr Iqbal Anjum, a consultant urologist at the hospital, said the study was "an extremely exciting prospect".
He added: "Over the years there have been many anecdotal reports suggesting that dogs may be able to detect cancer based on the tumour's odour.
"It is assumed that volatile molecules associated with the tumour would be released into the person's urine, making samples easy to collect and test."
Commenting on the approval, Dr Clare Guest, co-founder of Medical Detection Dogs, said: "Britain has one of the worst rates of early cancer detection in Europe. The NHS needs to be bolder about introducing new innovative methods to detect cancer in its early stages.
"Our dogs have higher rates of reliability than most of the existing tests. We know their sense of smell is extraordinary. They can detect parts per trillion - that's the equivalent of one drop of blood in two Olympic-sized swimming pools.
"We should not be turning our backs on these highly sensitive bio-detectors just because they have furry coats."
Two charities - the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust and the Prostate Cancer Support Group - have already expressed their interest in rolling out the diagnostic service once the trial is complete.
Gary Steel, founder of the Prostate Cancer Support Group, said his team were "so impressed" by the initial trials into using dogs to detect cancer, saying the PSA test left "a great deal of room for improvement".
He added: "If they can prove in this study that dogs are reliable at detecting cancer, then we will have the evidence we need to offer sample screening by dogs as an optional test in our cancer clinic.
"We should not miss this opportunity to save thousands of lives."
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
