Dogs Can Smell Trauma: A New Hope for PTSD
take care of: to protect someone or take responsibility for their health and safety
Dogs have amazing noses that can detect many things, like an upcoming seizure or low blood sugar in diabetics. Now, scientists believe dogs can also sense when a person with PTSD is about to have a flashback.
PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, happens after someone experiences something very traumatic. People with PTSD can suffer from flashbacks and heightened alertness and avoid things that remind them of the event. Service dogs help people with PTSD by staying with them during these tough times. A new study suggests they may be able to take care of their owners even sooner by smelling stress markers.
Scientists trained two dogs, Ivy and Callie, to smell stress in breath samples. The dogs were very good at this job. Ivy got it right 74% of the time, and Callie got it right 81% of the time. This study is small, but it shows that dogs can be trained to smell stress. More research is needed, but this could mean more quicker support for people with PTSD in the future.
Sample sentences
1. The nurse will take care of the patients while the doctor is away.
2. Can you take care of my plants while I am on vacation?
3. It is important to take care of your health by eating well and exercising.
Read More:
Catching the scent: Dal pilot study shows dogs can smell trauma