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Crazy Question! Service Dogs For Celics?

StephWright

By StephWright
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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StephWright Newbie
StephWright
Posted

Hello,

I have a really nutty question. Anyone ever heard of somebody training a dog to alert for gluten. I have a brilliant dog who we are training to be a therapy dog and the thought came to me...they train dogs to sniff out drugs, cancer, and lost people...how hard would it be to train a dog to alert if there is gluten in food? I also am severely allergic to latex and am wondering if you can teach a dog to smell and alert for latex too. That would be my savior!!! Anyone ever heard of such a thing, I have searched the net and can't find anything on dogs who do either but as many people that have the same problems that I do, it would make sense! Thanks-Steph

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JNBunnie1 Community Regular
JNBunnie1
Posted
Hello,

I have a really nutty question. Anyone ever heard of somebody training a dog to alert for gluten. I have a brilliant dog who we are training to be a therapy dog and the thought came to me...they train dogs to sniff out drugs, cancer, and lost people...how hard would it be to train a dog to alert if there is gluten in food? I also am severely allergic to latex and am wondering if you can teach a dog to smell and alert for latex too. That would be my savior!!! Anyone ever heard of such a thing, I have searched the net and can't find anything on dogs who do either but as many people that have the same problems that I do, it would make sense! Thanks-Steph

What an interesting thought......

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
Hello,

I have a really nutty question. Anyone ever heard of somebody training a dog to alert for gluten. I have a brilliant dog who we are training to be a therapy dog and the thought came to me...they train dogs to sniff out drugs, cancer, and lost people...how hard would it be to train a dog to alert if there is gluten in food? I also am severely allergic to latex and am wondering if you can teach a dog to smell and alert for latex too. That would be my savior!!! Anyone ever heard of such a thing, I have searched the net and can't find anything on dogs who do either but as many people that have the same problems that I do, it would make sense! Thanks-Steph

Interesting thought. If dogs can be trained to sniff out cancer cells, well who knows. I would imagine they could be trained to sniff out gluten just like you would train for drugs etc. I would pick a breed that has is known to have a very sensitive nose. If your successful do let us know. I would love to have a dog I could take into a restaurant and have sniff my plate before I ate. Imagine it would get some really strange looks from other diners and staff though. :D

LuvMoosic4life Collaborator
LuvMoosic4life
Posted

that would be awesome! I'm sure with some work it could be done! Gluten is in dog food too, so maybe you could start with getting the dog to recognize the differance between gluten dog food and gluten free dog food (if they make gluten-free dog food?) maybe train him so that he thinks its wrong to eat the gluten dog food,and alert you you when it is present... then move him onto human food...

spunky Contributor
spunky
Posted

WOW! Very cool thought... how much cheaper would that be than some high-tech, chemistry once-per-use food testing kit!!!!! Plus, have a companion to boot!

If you can figure out how to train 'em... I'm SURE people will want them!!!!!

Maybe you could start with wheat vs. rice, (like make homemade doggie biscuits), then kamut, barley, etc., and then move on to just small amounts of the grains present... of course, they'd have to recognize 20 ppm... but I think they can do that with other stuff... so... we can just hope gluten has a distinct SMELL!!!

If it can be done... I think those dogs would be in high demand!

Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular
Fiddle-Faddle
Posted

Is it cancer CELLS that they can sniff out, or are they just detecting the difference in odor of the sweat produced by people with cancer?

I know when I am sick, my sweat smells very different than when I am healthy.

While it's a fascinating idea, I don't think it's going to be practical/practiceable for gluten detection.

The latex idea, though, might be something...

ang1e0251 Contributor
ang1e0251
Posted

I believe cancer dogs smell the person's breath to ID the cancer. Drug dogs are given a scent induced play toy to train them. A dog with the right nose could be trained to detect just about anything.

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