Is it true that dogs detect cancer? Indeed. Their exceptional smell, with up to 300 million olfactory receptors, about 60 times more than a human, allows them to diagnose tumors in very initial states. This unusual capacity is beginning to apply for medical purposes.
For example, at the Barcelona Clinical Hospital it has been shown that a correctly trained dog is able to detect lung cancer, and in the United Kingdom, the favorable results of a study carried out at the Milton Keynes hospital by the Medical Dogs Foundation Detection, with whom Purina has collaborated in other initiatives, allowed the National Health Service (NHS) to start a project with specifically trained dogs to improve the detection of prostate cancer.
Animal assisted therapies
Coinciding on February 4 as World Cancer Day The Purina Foundation promotes animals assisted in Spain. Starting from the basis that dogs do not cure, medicine and health professionals do, but it is a motivational resource, emotional, cognitive and sensory support that is of great help to facilitate support and recovery processes. The Purina Animal Alliance has the mission of promoting knowledge about dog -assisted therapies, as well as training health personnel for implementation.
In the words of Sònia Sáez Veterinaria de Purina «Dogs have the gift of smiling and giving comfort, especially in difficult times. We believe in the power of the human-animal bond and in how, through animal-assisted therapies, we can offer emotional support to cancer patients »
Allies in recovery
Cancer and its treatment represent a challenge not only for patients, but also for their families, so creating a safe and friendly environment is essential for their physical and emotional well -being. In this sense, therapy dogs have proven excellent companions for cancer patients, especially children, both those admitted and those who visit the hospital.
Therapy dogs are the great allies in recovery. Coexistence with dogs has proven to be effective in reducing anxiety and improving mood, which has led to the increase in dog -assisted therapy programs in hospitals.
Pioneer country
Spain is one of the pioneer countries in interventions assisted with dogs. The Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, one of the five most important centers in Europe in Pediatric Medicine, incorporated an interventions unit assisted with dogs, working together with the Center of Teràpies Assistides Amb Cans (CTC) and Purina. On this, they carried out a study on the effect of interventions assisted with dogs in pediatrics and their benefits in hospitalized patients. The presence of therapy dogs helps:
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Reassure and distract children in critical moments, such as when they have to place a road.
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Pets travel the waiting rooms for external consultations to interact with families and children.
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Therapy dogs manage to make patients shorter and more distracted.
Therapy dogs work in areas such as external consultations, emergencies and hospitalization, helping children reduce anxiety and improve their disposition towards medical treatments.
In addition, the presence of these “four -legged angels” in waiting rooms helps children to face their fears and makes these moments more bearable for both them and their families.
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