Pooch Knows When You're About to Die

[snopes]

When Libby the 14-year-old therapy dog enters the room, folks light up.

It's when Libby plants her feet firmly on the ground and refuses to enter a room that things get more complicated.

Her owner says the therapy poodle knows when someone is about to die.

http://www.nbc10.com/health/14248253/detail.html

[Artemis]

Just like the cat, Oscar! Maybe they should go into business for themselves.

Originally Posted by Artemis

Just like the cat, Oscar! Maybe they should go into business for themselves.

Maybe they could have a death match....

[Tootsie Plunkette]

Stiller and Libby will be live at the NBC 10 studios Tuesday on "All That & More" at 4 p.m.

...unless Libby refuses to enter the studios!

[Xia]

That subject really caught me eye because I have a dog named Pooch! He's not a therapy dog however, that distinction belongs to my other dog Ginger.

I find it interesting that Oscar the cat and Libby the dog have opposite reactions to the patient who is on their 'deathbed.'

[Lgreywolf]

Sadly, Oscar the cat died mysteriously shortly after his story was made public. I think there's a link to that story in the Wild Kingdom thread on him. Hope the same thing doesn't happen to Libby.

[quiltsbypam]

Originally Posted by Lgreywolf

Sadly, Oscar the cat died mysteriously shortly after his story was made public. I think there's a link to that story in the Wild Kingdom thread on him. Hope the same thing doesn't happen to Libby.

That's too bad. Otherwise, people could have a CAT scan and a PET scan to check their health.

And I can get fished.

[llewtrah]

Didn't we have a dog that could scent imminent death about a month ago?

[Tarquin Farquart]

Originally Posted by llewtrah

Didn't we have a dog that could scent imminent death about a month ago?

And a cat. I'm holding out for a death rabbit.

Originally Posted by Lgreywolf

Sadly, Oscar the cat died mysteriously shortly after his story was made public. I think there's a link to that story in the Wild Kingdom thread on him. Hope the same thing doesn't happen to Libby.

Maybe Libby showed up at the cat's place. You know, rub out the competition....

[Dog Friendly]

My cynical side is curious. I can believe that an animal might sense biological causes of imminent death, such as an imminent heart attack or some such. I'd be very skeptical, however, of an animal's being able to tell when someone is about to get killed in a car accident, or struck by lightning, or something similar.

I'd like to see some data on the causes of death among the people these beasties --uhh, "fingered". A death from natural causes, depending on exactly what that might mean, I'd kind of buy. Death from something like a stroke or aneurysm, I'd be a lot more cautious about accepting, let alone something like a drive-by shooting.

Does anyone know if there's been a study of the causes of death among the patients whose deaths were predicted by these beasties?

[llewtrah]

Originally Posted by Tarquin Farquart

And a cat. I'm holding out for a death rabbit.

Buddy the Neon Tetra swims up to the glass of his fish tank to stare at 83 year old Bob Smith. Nurse call Bob's family immediately.

"Whenever Buddy stares at someone, he knows they don't have long to go," said one of the nurses, "All the other tropical fish just swim around the tank, but Buddy likes to stare at people."

Experts believe Buddy is simply staring at his own reflection in the aquarium glass, but nurses are unconvinced.

"Buddy has an impressive track record," said Sister Vera Biggs.

Meanwhile, Bob Smith mutters "Damn fish-of-death is staring at me again and swats at the tank to scare Buddy away from the glass. The sudden exertion, combined with a fear of death, causes him to collapse. Later, it is confirmed that Bob had suffered a heart attack.

"He had no history of heart trouble," said sceptical resident Alma Johnson, "It was just that darn fish staring at him all the time that freaked him."

Nurses, however, remain certain that Buddy the fish can predict when a patient is going to die.

Note: 2 weeks after this story was first released, Buddy the Neon Tetra was found dead on the carpet near his tank. Nurses believe he was unable to cope with his gift of death-foretelling and committed suicide. Alma Johnson believes 79 year old Sid Nickson had something to do with it: "Darn fish kept staring at Sid," she said enigmatically. Sid was unavailable for comment having slipped on a wet carpet, striking his head on a heavy oak table. Buddy's record therefore remains spot-on.

What about a Death Monkey? I mean, sure, all the masterbating and fecal hurlings might be cute the first couple times, but after awhile it might get messy. Won't somebody think of the coroners?

Private Number

[Xia]

Originally Posted by Dog Friendly

My cynical side is curious. I can believe that an animal might sense biological causes of imminent death, such as an imminent heart attack or some such. I'd be very skeptical, however, of an animal's being able to tell when someone is about to get killed in a car accident, or struck by lightning, or something similar.

Considering these are patients in nursing homes, I'd say "natural causes" is very likely. I don't think these patients are going out and getting in car accidents or electrical storms.
Animals can sense chemical/physiological changes in human bodies so I don't find this too surprising. There are dogs that can sense an imminent seizure or heart attack. There are dogs that can smell cancer. Why not death? I am sure in things such as organ failure there are physiological changes happening and this could also lead to different smells as well.

[Eddylizard]

Originally Posted by llewtrah

Didn't we have a dog that could scent imminent death about a month ago?

Yep.

..........

[llewtrah]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

Yep.

..........

Cheers. Scamp the Schnauzer in Ohio has a tally of 40 deaths. Oscar the cat had a tally of 20. I didn't notice Libby's count - anyone know?

[Dog Friendly]

Originally Posted by Xia

Considering these are patients in nursing homes, I'd say "natural causes" is very likely. I don't think these patients are going out and getting in car accidents or electrical storms.
Animals can sense chemical/physiological changes in human bodies so I don't find this too surprising. There are dogs that can sense an imminent seizure or heart attack. There are dogs that can smell cancer. Why not death? I am sure in things such as organ failure there are physiological changes happening and this could also lead to different smells as well.

Well, that's kind of what I'm trying to get at. Let's start by dismissing the sort of exaggerated claims I've heard put forth elsewhere, and that will doubtless get made again with reference to these cases, that an animal can tell when someone is about to die an accidental death. I don't buy those, and don't think anyone else here would, either.

But I'm curious about things like strokes or aneurysms, blood clots causing a blockage in a critical vein, that sort of thing. I don't know how an animal could pick up on an impending stroke, for example, and I wonder if studies have been made, or could be made, to differentiate the kinds of natural deaths the animals are best at detecting. Being able to detect cancer is one thing, not hard to believe. If a particular organ or system's failure could abruptly change the patient's body chemistry, again I can see how that would be detectable.

But something like an impending stroke? A blood clot lodging somewhere critical? I'm curious if such things are tallied along with the others, and what the numbers might suggest.