Perceptions about professionally and non-professionally trained hypoglycemia detection dogs

AimsPatients with diabetes increasingly have questions about diabetes alert dogs. This study evaluated perceptions about dogs trained professionally or otherwise to detect glucose levels.MethodsA link to a survey about glucose detecting dogs was announced on diabetes websites.Results135 persons responded, with 63 answering about their child with diabetes. Most respondents obtained their dog from a professional trainer (n = 54) or trained it themselves (n = 51). Owners of self- and professionally-trained dogs were very positive about dogs' abilities to alert them to low and high glucose levels, while owners of dogs that learned entirely on their own (n = 15) reported lower frequencies of alerts and more missed hypoglycemic episodes, p < .01. Regardless of how dogs learned, perceptions about managing diabetes were improved during periods of dog ownership relative to times without, p < .001. Self-reported rates of diabetes-related hospitalizations, assistance from others for treating hypoglycemia, and accidents or near accidents while driving reduced during periods of dog ownership compared to periods without dogs, ps < .01.ConclusionsThese data suggest potential effectiveness of and high satisfaction with glucose-detecting dogs. Clinicians can use these results to address pros and cons of dog ownership with patients who inquire about them.