To be slightly concerned for DH's health as our dog keeps sniffing him?

[thethirdmrsdewinter]

DH is outwardly healthy. Late-forties, fit and strong, no known current health issues. No recent changes, except that for the last month or so, our dog keeps sniffing/pawing one specific area of his abdomen.

DH first pointed this out to me - I think he thinks it's odd but unconcerning. A few times each day (and that's just when I'm there) she stands up against him and really sniffs this spot, a few inches to the left of his navel, occasionally gently pawing at it. There is nothing to be seen on the skin.

Last night when he took a shower I watched dog retrieve the t-shirt he'd just taken off, put it on the floor and sniff/paw the part of it that'd been on the bit of skin she sniffs. It made me feel uneasy, to be honest - she's never even taken a smelly gym sock from the laundry basket before now, and it seems strange to me that she's taking an interest in such a seemingly boring patch of skin.

So, am I being really stupid giving this any headspace whatsoever? Genuine question, and would actually be quite happy to be told yes, as I can worry a bit obsessively sometimes.

Good luck. We get the Spanish Inquisition from the surgery receptionist whenever we try and book appointments. You could tell them you have blood dripping from your arse and they'd still be reluctant to give you an appointment. I'd love to see how they'd respond to "my dog keeps sniffing me".

I know of someone who went to the doctor to confirm pregnancy, because her dogs had been acting weirdly around her, just as they had during her previous pregnancy. It turns out it was too early to test, and the doctor told her to return in a wee while.

Turns out the dogs were right and she was pregnant!

There was something about this fairly recently on the TV - unfortunately I can’t remember the programme.
It was basically some sort of study into animals’ incredible sense of smell and how research is being done for medical purposes to detect illnesses in humans.
It very much sounds like your dog is trying to communicate something.
Please tell your DH to see a doctor, just to be on the safe side.

Dogs have been trained to detect disease via smell, so they must have a natural apptitude to harness?

www.wired.com/story/the-science-of-the-sniff-why-dogs-are-great-disease-detectors/

I can always tell when my little girl, who has a long term rare illness, is proper poorly (as opposed to normal poorly) and needs to be hospitalised because she smells different, and a paediatric nurse of 30 years experience has told me she uses smell as part of her assessment - she once told a junior doctor to admit my daughter overnight based on smell alone!

Dogs are much better than humans at smelling things, so I’m inclined to agree - your chap needs to get this checked out. Maybe have a think if anything else is weird (sleeping/toilet habits, energy levels etc) so that can be discussed as well as the dogs diagnosis?

I was reading about dogs being able to sniff out cancer, they’re researching it apparently.

Please do get him to see gp, my dog who'd known my dad since she was a pup, suddenly kept fussing and whining, nosing his middle, 6/7 months later he confided in me he'd been having blood in his Wee for a few weeks, turned out to be kidney cancer.

Have you all seen the rats that sniff out TB???
Apopo rats detecting land mines and TB they are amazing!

I was reading about dogs being able to sniff out cancer, they’re researching it apparently

Just googled that - wow!

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190408114304.htm

Don’t panic though OP - like I posted in the previous link, they can also sniff out non-cancerous illnesses!

I think you really have to get your DH to visit the GP.

I think he should definitely go in. Dog people will tell you this is not unheard of; they detect cancers, etc.

I've only read the OP and I hope posters have already said go to the GP. There are documented cases of pets drawing attention to parts of their owners bodies where something untoward has been found. Please tell him to get checked out.

I'd get him to go to the GP and mention it.
My cat detected my mother's breast cancer. Not saying that your DH has something like that but there are plenty of examples of dogs (and cats) detecting some kind of problem.

Oh dear, the OP has probably gone from ‘slightly concerned’ to TOTAL PANIC now!

I saw a news clip with a lady who could smell Parkinson’s (or something like that). They’re trying to harness the power of her nose to develop a test.

Anyway, he should go to see the GP. If that didn’t bring up anything, I’d consider arranging a private scab if you could afford it.

Scan. Not scab. No one wants a scab.

I had heard about dogs detecting cancers before, so that's definitely been on my mind from the second DH mentioned the sniffing.

It seems pretty unanimous that it would be a good idea to be checked out by a nurse or doctor, but as I said, I'm not sure how agreeable he'll be. I wouldn't exactly rate our GP practice very highly, either. We have private health insurance but I guess he'd need a referral to access any serious tests. I should check our policies. I realise I'm jumping the gun a bit here...

To answer earlier questions he has no pain at all. He works a stressful professional role, but doesn't do anything physically that would obviously cause issues in that area. Family history of stomach and oesophageal cancer, but at much more advanced age. As far as I'm aware the spot the dog's sniffing is the wrong side for the stomach.

As this is out of character I would. I didn't take any notice when my elderly dog kept putting her head on my boobs (something she'd never previously done). I just thought it was really cute. It wasn't until months after surgery and radiotherapy for Breast Cancer that it occurred to me. Dogs can sniff out cancer so maybe can detect other conditions too.

Get it checked out.
Dogs are amazing. It was a small dog who drew attention to my uncles illness. ( thanks to the dog he is physically well now,)

Pancreatic cancer is often quite a way on before anyone presents with symptoms. I would definitely go and Im a cynical nurse.

Gosh, I'm worried now. Very grateful for all the responses though.

I had a lump on my leg that DDog was very interested in. If had bare legs would sniff it, I always assumed he thought it was food. But he would also lick my trousers in that spot too. Turned out it was cancerous

Advise him to go op! Even show him the thread if it might help! Nothing to loose by going! Good luck.

I’m currently recovering from the heart attack my dog had been sniffing for 2 weeks. He would climb up me and stand by top of tummy/chest and sniff every time he got the chance. At the time I just thought why is he doing this and thought it was his latest habit. One completely blocked RCA land blue lighted to a cardiac catheterisation suite later, he’s not sniffing it any more.

Wow, this thread has really astounded me-who knew? OP, if you have private health, it should be easy to book a well man type assessment directly without going to your GP. Really hope your H is ok.

I wouldn't exactly rate our GP practice very highly, either. We have private health insurance but I guess he'd need a referral to access any serious tests. I should check our policies

Your GP will probably be glad to make a referral based on just a telephone consultation with DH- it won’t cost the practice any money, the way an NHS referral does, so no need for GP to be cautious.

I would ask the GP receptionist about it, make it clear you are looking to make it as easy/simple for the GP as possible. Good luck!