Dogs are being trained to sniff out coronavirus cases

[SheltieLover]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2020/04/29/coronavirus-detection-dogs/

Dogs are being trained to sniff out coronavirus cases
Poncho, a yellow Labrador retriever, is training to detect the scent of the coronavirus as part of a University of Pennsylvania study. (Pat Nolan for Penn Vet)
Poncho, a yellow Labrador retriever, is training to detect the scent of the coronavirus as part of a University of Pennsylvania study. (Pat Nolan for Penn Vet)
By
Karin Brulliard
April 29, 2020 at 9:38 a.m. CDT


As some states move to reopen after weeks of shutdowns, infectious disease experts say the prevention of future coronavirus outbreaks will require scaling up testing and identifying asymptomatic carriers.

Eight Labrador retrievers — and their powerful noses — have been enlisted to help.

The dogs are the first trainees in a University of Pennsylvania research project to determine whether canines can detect an odor associated with the virus that causes the disease covid-19. If so, they might eventually be used in a sort of “canine surveillance” corps, the university said — offering a noninvasive, four-legged method to screen people in airports, businesses or hospitals.

More at link. The objective is apparently to determine whether dogs can detect the scent of active infection, then task engineers with creating an electronic scent detector for screening large numbers of people.

Personally, I think these dogs should be wearing N-95's (if they were available). What will happen when they become infected & lose their sense of smell?

[Alliepoo]

1. I was thinking along those same lines

Except I am also worried about the dogs possibly not surviving.

[SheltieLover]

2. Yes, me too! 1st & foremost!

I am not one who feels that any means to an end is OK, especially where vulnerable persons or species are involved.

They are training these gorgeous dogs to sniff for a highly-contageous and deadly respiratory disease. What could go wrong? 😳🤯

I guess I skipped stating the obvious irony of humans again relying on Nature for answers, while endangering these dogs' health & very lives.🤬

[elias7]

3. But if they're wearing N-95's, they shouldn't be able to smell the infection

Kind of a catch 22.

I agree there is cause for concern for the animals, as I’ve read some isolated reports of both dogs and cats testing positive. Don’t know if it causes infection, though.

[SheltieLover]

5. Maybe

Interesting point you have raised: whether dogs' amazing olfactory senses can detect with masks on. I have no idea, but I would bet they can.

I attended a police dog demo some years ago & the speaker extoled canine sense of smell - able to detect drugs when wrapped in coffee, sealed in gas tanks of vehicles, etc., but I guess that's different than potentially blocking their intake with masks.

[elias7]

4. Plus, if they become carriers, they can transmit infection to those they're testing

[SheltieLover]

6. Absolutely!

Great point! 👍