Diabetes-alert dog Barkley uncovers cancer clues in Idaho
An Idaho teen with Type 1 diabetes relies on Barkley, a diabetes-alert dog trained to sniff for low and high blood sugar and alert with a ball reward. During training, Barkley unexpectedly began growling at people with cancer—first at a patient with skin cancer recurrence and later at another cancer patient (one case involved a pregnant woman)—suggesting the dog’s nose may detect cancer scents. While studies note dogs can be trained to identify cancer, more research is needed. Barkley’s alerts help Jaylin manage her condition and have made him a clinic favorite, giving the family peace of mind.
