Can dogs sense death? Many dog owners recall their dogs behaving differently when someone has died or is about to die. Beverly Bingham of North Palm Beach, Florida, and her 6-year-old Borzoi, “Krispin,” share similar experiences. “A few days before my mom passed, Krispin would come into Mom’s room after my aide and I had fed and cleaned her,” says Bingham. “He would nuzzle her hair and smell her breath. I do think they at least pick up on changes in the dying person’s body chemistry.”
Similarly, Denise Milko of Ocean City, Maryland, remembers how her Rhodesian Ridgeback, “Hampton,” kept a close watch over her mother. Milko, who’s actively shown Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Italian Greyhounds for over 20 years, remembers that her mother encouraged Milko, to go to a show with Hampton. “Hampton kept looking back,” she says. “We got to the show. He showed two days, then we got a call to come home. Mom was dying. She wasn’t dying when we left. He knew — a brilliant breed. On top of her coffin was a blue ribbon he’d won for her. She would have smiled.”
These are stories that you’ll find pop up everywhere. Paula Johnson of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, can also vouch for this ability that dogs seem to have. “My grandparents owned a Schipperke,” says Johnson. “My grandfather came home from work early one day, not feeling 100%, and went to lie down in the bedroom. A short while later, the dog started bugging at the door to the bedroom. My grandmother tried to hush him so as to let my grandfather sleep. The dog was insistent and so my grandmother opened the door to let him in: my grandfather was deceased. He had a heart attack in his sleep. So yes, dogs know!”
Are these anecdotal examples just a series of coincidences? Or can dogs really sense death? Ancient people seemed to think so.
Have you ever noticed your dog acting differently around another dog that wasn’t feeling well? Maybe they became more gentle, protective, or even avoided the sick pup altogether. This behavior might have left you wondering can dogs actually tell when other dogs are sick?
As a dog owner myself, I’ve witnessed my retriever Bella become unusually attentive when my neighbor’s dog Max was recovering from surgery. She would sniff him carefully and lie beside him quietly, completely different from their usual playful interactions. These observations aren’t just coincidental – there’s actually scientific evidence behind our furry friends’ ability to detect illness.
The Science Behind Dogs Detecting Illness in Other Dogs
Dogs possess remarkable sensory abilities that allow them to detect when another dog is unwell. Their incredible sense of smell, behavioral observation skills, and pack instincts all contribute to this seemingly sixth sense.
Super-Powered Sense of Smell
A dog’s nose is nothing short of extraordinary Their sense of smell is estimated to be up to 100,000 times more powerful than a human’s When another dog becomes sick, their body chemistry changes, producing different scents through
- Breath
- Saliva
- Skin secretions
- Urine
- Body odor
These chemical changes create subtle odor signatures that healthy dogs can detect. They might smell hormonal imbalances, infections, or even certain diseases like cancer in other dogs long before humans notice any symptoms.
According to veterinary research, dogs can detect odors at concentrations as low as one part per trillion. To put that in perspective, that’s like detecting a drop of liquid in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools! This remarkable ability allows them to pick up on the smallest chemical changes that occur when illness strikes
Expert Body Language Readers
Beyond their incredible sense of smell, dogs are masters at reading body language. When a dog is sick, they often display subtle behavioral changes:
- Moving more slowly
- Decreased energy levels
- Different posture
- Changed eating habits
- Altered sleeping patterns
Healthy dogs quickly notice these changes and often adjust their own behavior accordingly. For instance, a normally playful dog might stop initiating games with a sick companion, recognizing that their energy is low.
Pack Mentality and Emotional Connections
Dogs are naturally social animals with strong pack instincts. In the wild, pack health was crucial for survival, so they evolved to be highly attuned to the wellbeing of their companions.
When one dog in a household becomes ill, others may exhibit protective behaviors such as:
- Staying close to the sick dog
- Increased grooming or licking
- Standing guard nearby
- Alerting humans through whining or barking
- Bringing toys or comfort items to the sick dog
These behaviors demonstrate not just awareness of illness but possibly even empathy – a desire to comfort and protect their canine friend during vulnerability.
Signs Your Dog Has Detected Illness in Another Dog
How can you tell if your dog has sensed something wrong with another dog? Look for these common behavioral changes:
- Increased sniffing – Especially around specific areas of the other dog’s body
- Changed interaction style – Becoming gentler or more cautious
- Protective behavior – Standing guard or blocking other animals from approaching
- Emotional responses – Whining, pacing, or appearing anxious
- Mirroring behaviors – Becoming subdued when near the sick dog
- Avoiding play – Declining to engage in rough activities
- Licking or grooming – Increased attention to the other dog
- Staring or head tilting – Showing focused attention
Many dog owners report their healthy dogs exhibiting these behaviors days or even weeks before a veterinarian diagnosed the other dog’s illness. This suggests dogs can potentially detect health problems in early stages, sometimes before visible symptoms appear.
Real-Life Examples of Dogs Detecting Illness
There are countless stories from pet owners about their dogs sensing illness in other dogs:
“My Labrador Sophie became extremely protective of our elderly dachshund Max. She would lay beside him constantly and growl if our other dogs approached too quickly. Three days later, Max was diagnosed with kidney disease. The vet was amazed that Sophie seemed to know something was wrong before we did.” – Maria, dog owner
“When my neighbor’s dog was battling cancer, my dog refused to play with him like they normally would. Instead, he would just sit quietly beside him during visits. It was like he knew his friend wasn’t up for rough housing anymore.” – James, dog owner
These anecdotes align with what veterinarians observe. Many report cases where one dog’s behavior change prompted an owner to bring in another dog for examination, leading to early diagnosis of health issues.
How Dogs’ Illness Detection Compares to Medical Technology
The remarkable ability of dogs to detect illness has even led to scientific research exploring their potential in medical settings. Studies have shown that trained dogs can detect:
- Various types of cancer
- Diabetes
- Seizures before they occur
- Migraines
- Bacterial infections
In some cases, dogs have demonstrated the ability to detect certain conditions with accuracy rates of over 90%, sometimes outperforming laboratory tests, especially in early stages of disease.
While most of this research focuses on dogs detecting human illness, the same mechanisms apply to their ability to detect illness in other dogs. Their incredible sensitivity to scent allows them to pick up on biomarkers of disease that might be undetectable even with sophisticated medical equipment.
What To Do If Your Dog Senses Another Dog Is Sick
If you notice your dog acting differently around another dog, don’t ignore it. Here’s what you should consider:
1. Monitor the potentially sick dog
Look for common signs of illness such as:
- Changes in appetite or water consumption
- Lethargy or decreased activity
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Coughing or difficulty breathing
- Changes in bathroom habits
- Unusual lumps or swellings
2. Consult your veterinarian
If you notice concerning symptoms or your dog continues to act strangely around another dog, schedule a veterinary appointment. Mention your dog’s behavioral changes – this information can be valuable to your vet.
3. Support both dogs appropriately
- Provide quiet spaces where the sick dog can rest
- Ensure the healthy dog still receives attention and exercise
- Monitor interactions to prevent stress for either dog
- Maintain regular routines as much as possible
4. Know when it’s urgent
Seek immediate veterinary care if you observe:
- Difficulty breathing
- Collapse or inability to stand
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea (especially with blood)
- Signs of extreme pain
- Bloated abdomen
- Blue or pale gums
Supporting Your Dogs During Illness
When one dog is sick and another seems to sense it, creating the right environment is important:
- Provide separate spaces if needed, while still allowing supervised interaction
- Maintain routine to reduce anxiety for both dogs
- Give extra attention to both the sick and healthy dog
- Watch for stress signals in the healthy dog
- Follow veterinary guidance for the sick dog’s care
I remember when my older dog was recovering from surgery, my younger pup became his dedicated nurse – constantly checking on him and laying beside him. I made sure to give them both extra love during this time, which seemed to help them both cope with the situation.
Training Dogs to Detect Illness
The natural ability of dogs to detect illness has been harnessed through specialized training programs. Dogs can be trained to alert to specific medical conditions through a process that includes:
- Exposing them to samples from individuals with the target condition
- Rewarding them for identifying the correct scent
- Teaching them specific alert behaviors (pawing, sitting, barking)
- Gradually increasing the difficulty of detection scenarios
While most medical detection dogs are trained to identify human health conditions, the same principles apply to training dogs to alert to illness in other dogs. Some veterinary settings have begun exploring the use of canine scent detection as a screening tool.
Limitations of Canine Illness Detection
While dogs have impressive abilities to detect illness, there are some limitations:
- They can’t diagnose specific conditions
- Their reactions might be based on behavior changes rather than illness
- Some dogs are more perceptive than others
- Training and temperament affect detection abilities
- Certain illnesses may not produce detectable scent changes
This is why veterinary care remains essential, even when your dog seems to be alerting you to another dog’s illness. Your dog’s behavior should be considered one potential warning sign, not a substitute for professional medical care.
The evidence strongly suggests that dogs can indeed tell when other dogs are sick. Through their extraordinary sense of smell, expert reading of body language, and deep emotional connections, they often detect illness before humans notice any symptoms.
If your dog suddenly changes their behavior around another dog, pay attention – they might be picking up on something you can’t see or smell. While you should always seek proper veterinary care, your dog’s natural abilities might just provide an early warning system that could make a significant difference in another dog’s health outcome.
I’ve learned to trust my dogs’ instincts when it comes to each other’s wellbeing. They’ve often alerted me to problems I might have otherwise missed. It’s just one more reason to appreciate the incredible animals that share our homes and hearts.
Have you ever noticed your dog acting differently around a sick dog? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below!
Dogs, Death, and Folklore
Across time and space, many cultures from all over the world have associated dogs with death. The ancient Egyptian god, Anubis, had the head of a jackal or dog, and is the god of death, mummification, and embalming. He escorted souls to the underworld, and played a role in embalming and protecting the dead.
Dog howling is also said to universally support dogs warning or telling of death. In Irish lore, it is said that dogs could see souls being led to their resting place, led by a pack of hounds leading riders across the sky, and that is why they howl at the night sky.
In the lore of Mesoamerica (spanning much of Mexico and Central America), dogs guided the dead through the eight layers of the underworld. In fact, the name of the Xoloitzcuintli, an ancient Mexican dog breed, combines the name of Xolotl, the god of death, with the Nahuatl term for “dog.” In parts of Peru, some people consider a dog howling at night an omen that a person has died or is about to die.
Black Dogs in Folklore
In the British Isles, the appearance of black dogs, especially members of the hound group, was thought to indicate death was coming. Even into the early modern era, black dogs supposedly haunted remote areas, howling at anyone who came near and foreshadowing that person’s death. Fans of Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle may recognize these tales as inspiration for “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” Could fact lie behind fiction?
Why do so many cultures associate dogs with death? Perhaps it’s simply a morbid observation. After all, stray canids may have once eaten human remains or howled to let packmates know there was available meat. Or perhaps it’s the mournful – or even scary – sound of wild canids calling packs together that stirs some uneasy feeling within us.
Scientists Confirm Dogs Can Detect 8 Diseases
FAQ
Do dogs know when you’re sick?
So, if illness changes your body chemistry and your dog knows how you’re supposed to smell, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when they react to your illness. As Dr. Burch explains, “Considering that dogs can detect cancer, diabetes, and seizures, we have every reason to believe that our dogs know when we are sick.
Can dogs sense if a dog is sick?
Many pet owners have observed their furry friends acting differently around sick dogs, leading to the question of whether dogs have the ability to detect illness in their canine companions. There is a growing body of research that suggests dogs can indeed sense when another dog is sick.
Do dogs know if someone is not feeling well?
Dogs are known for their strong sense of empathy and their ability to pick up on the emotions of their owners. It’s possible that they also have the ability to sense when another dog is not feeling well.
How do you know if a dog is ill?
Here are a few signs your dog might be feeling ill, so you’ll know when to take them to the vet. Dogs are usually pretty consistent with their behavior, so if they have any new habits or seem to be in a bad mood, it should cause you to raise an eyebrow.
Do dogs have a sensitive sense of smell?
Dogs have an incredibly sensitive sense of smell, with some estimates suggesting they can detect odors at concentrations as low as one part per trillion. This remarkable ability allows them to pick up on chemical changes in the body that occur when an individual is sick.
What happens if a dog is sick?
When a dog is sick, they may exhibit changes in their behavior, such as lethargy, loss of appetite, or aggression. Other dogs may pick up on these changes and react accordingly. Some dogs may become more protective of a sick pack member, while others may avoid them altogether.
How do dogs act when they smell illness?
Do pets know when other pets are sick?
Yes, dogs can often sense when another dog is sick. They have an extraordinary sense of smell, which allows them to detect changes in scent that may indicate illness. Dogs can pick up on various chemical changes in a sick dog’s body, such as those related to infections or other health issues.
Can dogs tell when other dogs are in pain?
Yes, dogs can sense other dogs’ pain and illness through their heightened sense of smell, which detects subtle changes in body odor and chemistry, as well as by observing changes in the other dog’s behavior, body language, and distress sounds. Dogs familiar with another dog will react to these cues by becoming more attentive, clingy, or by actively avoiding the sick or injured dog, demonstrating empathy and a complex understanding of their packmate’s suffering.
How long do dogs sense the death of another dog?