Cancer Sniffing Dogs

Detecting cancer in its early stages can be difficult, even with the help of the priciest, most advanced medical equipments. However, scientists have discovered that when it comes to finding some forms of this deadly disease, a sensitive well trained doggy nose may work better than the highest technology.

Sounds ridiculous right? In 1989, the British medical journal "The Lancet" printed an anecdotal report about a mutt who developed an obsessive interest in a mole on its owner's leg. Irritated, the owner finally had it checked out and discovered that it was a malignant melanoma. A melanoma that would have eventually killed her... if it were not discovered...

That story, along with many other similar stories, piqued the interest of an American Dermatologist & Skin Cancer Specialist... Dr Armand, from Tallahassee, Florida. Since most melanoma cases go unreported until it's too late to save the patient, he wondered if dogs could be trained to sniff out cancer in its beginning stages.

Dr Armand approached former head of the police canine corps, Duane Pickel, and asked if he knew any dogs who would be up to the challenge. Duane chose his own pet, George, a standard schnauzer.

George was already a highly skilled bomb-sniffing dog. For him to become a cancer-sniffing dog required more rigorous trainings. First, he was taught to sniff out concealed test tubes containing small little bits of malignant melanomas. Then a sample was bandaged to a person, along with many other bandages containing nothing. During dozens of trials, George accumulated over 95% detection rate. Then, finally he was released onto real cancer patients. George managed a 6 out of 7 positive identification rate.

Dogs have highly sensitive nose. They have more than 200million smell-sensing cells in their noses, compared to our human's mere 5million.

They can detect a small packet of drugs in a kitchen full of many other tasty scents (herbs, spices, chicken, beef, cooked meals, uncooked food etc). Or detect a rabbit in a jungle full of scents from different flora and fauna.

Since people and their high-tech equipments have had a lousy track record of finding melanomas in their earliest phases, any help from dogs should be encouraged...it's cheaper, faster and easier too.

Ironically, George who showed the possibilities of such a technique passed away in 2002 from a brain tumor. Maybe he couldn't tell his handlers of his own cancer...

But the work continues... several studies have been conducted, including an attempt to teach dogs to detect bladder cancer by smelling patients' urine. Amazing note: one of the supposedly healthy people in the experiment was found to have a very very early case of bladder cancer when the dog reacted strongly to this guy's supposedly normal urine. He was treated immediately and recovered. He became one of the first few, but not last, cancer patients who owe his life to a dog.















I think there are 4 parts to the below video. To watch the rest double click on this video





Image from http://www.mycommunityworks.org/Hearts/hearts.html

Cesar Millan:10 Travel Tips

The holiday season is coming up. Christmas, school holiday and Chinese New Year... You wanna go somewhere, what about your dog?

Here's a few tips from Cesar Millan's top 10 travel tips:
(from http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/tips/quick_travel.php)

1.) Prepare. Don't make it a last minute "pack-and-let's-go." Your dog will sense your anxiety and tension. Be ready days in advance, so that your dog has a normal experience before he has to get in the car or on the plane.
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3.) Bring your dog's blankie. Or his favorite stuffed animal, toy, bone--any item which is familiar to your dog and will comfort and relax him.
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5.) Go on a long walk. A recently exercised dog will be in a more relaxed state during any long trip.
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7.) Don't leave your dog in the car. Summer temperatures can make a car heat up fast. Add an over-excited dog, and dehydration could be the result.

8.) Go on another walk. Once you arrive at the hotel, ask the staff where there is a nice, safe place to walk around. Then take your dog there for a walk to relax him.
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10.) Balanced dogs make better travel companions. There is no specific breed or size of dog that naturally travels better than another, but an unstable dog will not make a good travel companion. Always nurture a balanced state of mind in your dog, and you will create a more pleasant traveling experience for both of you!

Can't bring your dog along? Find a good substitute pack. In a kennel, your dog should be immediately adopted as a member of the pack. The staff should be able to get your dog focused on what is there for him – and not leave him mourning over the fact that you left. It is a big deal for a dog to detach himself from a pack. The new pack should equal or better the pack he just left.

Cesar Millan Tips

~Cesar Millan on his daily skate routine with his highest energy dogs~


LOS ANGELES, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan tackles the
five most common issues faced by dog owners in the fifth edition of his
Mastering Leadership DVD series, Common Canine Misbehaviors. Here are a few
tips for each of these problems:

5.) Aggression towards other dogs - Watch your temper! If you are tense,
frustrated, or angry, your dog will mirror that energy right back at you, so
it's especially important to remain calm when dealing with an aggressive dog.
But remember, always put your safety first! Seek the help of a professional to
deal with this potentially dangerous issue.

4.) Overexcitement or hyperactivity - Overexcited or hyperactive dogs are not
being challenged enough. Most often, they just require more exercise! Find a
new activity to try with your dog - hiking, swimming, agility courses - or
step up your current walk routine. Dogs require at least 30 minutes of a
structured walk every day. Talk to your vet about how much exercise your dog
can safely handle.

3.) Barking while the owner is away - This is most often a symptom of
separation anxiety. You can help your dog to relax by communicating that being
apart is no big deal. Instead of showering your dog with affection, practice
no touch, no talk, and no eye contact for at least five minutes when entering
or leaving your home.

2.) Barking at a specific stimulus - Take time to simulate the cause of the
barking, and practice correcting your dog. If it's the doorbell that sets your
dog off, ring it when no one is coming over, so you can stay focused on the
task at hand: helping your dog overcome this unwanted behavior.

1.) Problems on the walk - A canine pack leader leads, and so should you! Your
dog should always be next to you or behind you, never out in front. Make sure
you are the first one out the door and the first one to come back in.

Watch Cesar demonstrate these tips and more in his new DVD Common Canine
Misbehaviors available at CesarsWay.com.


~Cesar Millan's 3 rules for a psychologically stable and balanced dog~


SOURCE:  Cesar Millan

Natasha Subova, +1-818-506-7887, natasha@angelcopr.com, for Cesar Millan

Article from: Thomson Reuters 2009 http://ow.ly/zFzS
Images from: http://www.cesarmillaninc.com

Grooming Rates

House Calls for grooming dogs. For my own security, I only do house calls for families and all women households. If you do not belong to either, I can make arrangements to pick your dog up and groom in a different location :-)

Extra Small: Chi Hua Hua size
Small : Shih Tzu size
Medium : Cocker Spaniel size
Large : Golden Retriever


Basic Groom: Nails, Ears, Ear fur, Belly, Paw pad, Anal gland, Bath, Dry
Extra Small: RM20 (botak: add RM5)
Small : RM40 (botak: add RM10)
Medium : RM60 (botak: add RM15)
Large : RM80 (botak: add RM20)

Full Groom: All of the above plus Total Body Styling
Extra Small: RM40
Small : RM70
Medium : RM100
Large : RM130


Bathe & Dry Only :
Fur less than 1 inch: RM20 - RM50 depending on size
Fur 1-3 inches: RM30 - RM60 depending on size
Fur 3-6 inches: RM40 - RM70 depending on size


Add On:
Tick wash (Tick Killer)
Extra Small: Add RM5
Small : Add RM10
Medium : Add RM15
Large Add RM20


Cats : Bathe, clean ears
Short Coat : RM30
Long Coat : RM50


If your dog doesn't allow you to clean their ears or clip their nails, I can do that for you... email me at instingt@gmail.com for separate price.

My areas are Petaling Jaya, Damansara, Hartamas, Subang, Kinrara, Old Klang Road


What I need from you:
:: 1 Plug point, near my grooming table (for my clipper & drier)
:: Your pet's towel


Note: Rates will increase in 2010. If you have not tried me out yet, now's the time to do it :)






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