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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

178 replies

thethirdmrsdewinter · 23/05/2019 16:44

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.

OP posts:
justilou1 · 24/05/2019 01:29

Dogs also sniff out diabetes. Is husband drinking lots of water???

Harriedharriet · 24/05/2019 01:33

Our dog sniffed out two pregnancies and my cousin had cancer in his shoulder discovered by the dog.

squee123 · 24/05/2019 01:44

a guide dog puppy I know that was usually very well behaved was embarrassingly obsessed with one lady's crotch. Never bothered with anyone else's but whenever this lady came around or they bumped in to her when out the puppy would go straight for a sniff of the crotch.e
She had read news reports about such things and so decided to get checked. She had cervical cancer and thankfully due to early diagnosis is doing really well :)

SleepWarrior · 24/05/2019 02:09

Explaining all of that, I don't think a gp would think you were silly. Definitely worth exploring.

MyOtherProfile · 24/05/2019 02:22

Has the dog only recently started doing this?

TurnTheFreakingFrogsGay · 24/05/2019 02:25

I have a long chronic lung condition and have flare ups that would come on all of a sudden and be ill for days.

I'm convinced my lab knows when one is coming as she's extra clingy in the days before I'm knocked on my arse, she follows me every where and is right at my side going up and down the stairs and it's almost like she thinks I'm going to pass out. She literally watches me like a hawk and the second I go to get up she's right at my side following me. Every single time she's done this I've been struck with a lung infection a few days later. Every single time.

1moremum · 24/05/2019 02:27

Tell him to go if for no other reason there are nearly a hundred mums netters who want to know the results.

Oh, wait. that might be the opposite of encouraging.

PurpleFlower1983 · 24/05/2019 02:30

Dogs are amazing animals. I think in your case I would brave a scary google to show to your DH to make him go to the GP.

costacoffeecup · 24/05/2019 03:31

Our health insurance offers a full health MOT at a discount, would advise maybe doing that to see if anything crops up in bloods etc.

Intothe · 24/05/2019 03:48

He's going to need bloods taking.

The way the NHS operates in my area is the GP prints out the blood request, then you go online and your earliest appointment is probably a week away.

As he's busy with work, see whether a private GP could take bloods there and then.

I've also heard about dogs sniffing out cancer.

A dog's loyalty is like no other, but maybe the dog doesn't know what it's smelling. But it's smelling something.
He's probably due an MOT anyway.

Intothe · 24/05/2019 03:49

As he has no symptoms lol, he just needs to get routine bloods done. Don't panic. Probably nothing.

Daisypie · 24/05/2019 03:52

Hope you can convince him to get checked, OP and it is doing very minor.

HennyPennyHorror · 24/05/2019 04:03

They can smell things. I got stung by a wasp and it was itchy/sore for a month...the dog regularly "checked on it" by sniffing and licking it. Once it settled, he stopped.

Verastsnhope · 24/05/2019 04:31

Yep get checked definitely. My very loyal large breed guard dog randomly began licking my foot years ago. He progressed to trying to bite my toe while whining after a few days...I went to the doctors and turned out I had a very deep nasty infection which was spreading rapidly towards my leg. It had barely hurt! I was lucky the dog had alerted me as I would most definitely had ended up with sepsis had I not been urged to react by his odd behaviour

ViolentBrutishAndShort · 24/05/2019 05:37

I won't tell you the back story but I am confident my DH is now cancer free because the dog will lie next to him.
If you could have seen the dogs behaviour over the last two years of two cancer diagnoses and subsequent treatment you would know why I am confident the October scan will be clear, put it that way.

Amibeingdaft81 · 24/05/2019 05:38

Our health insurance offers a full health MOT at a discount, would advise maybe doing that to see if anything crops up in bloods etc.

I like this idea and often works for men reluctant to see a GP.

My family and I with county medical health insurance and they give 50% off BMI health screen. I don’t want to go in to detail - but my BIL wouldnt be here today if he hadn’t had the health screen. He too had been reluctant to see his gp so his wife set up one of these private health screens for them both, and the rest is history....

LightDrizzle · 24/05/2019 05:58

Could the posters who’ve experienced dogs sniffing out infection or illness, share the breeds of the dogs involved?
I’m wondering if it corresponds to police preferences like springer spaniels.

HennyPennyHorror · 24/05/2019 06:01

Light mine is a Guardian dog...a Maremma sheepdog.

To be slightly concerned for DH's health as our dog keeps sniffing him?
LightDrizzle · 24/05/2019 06:07

Henny Beautiful!

HennyPennyHorror · 24/05/2019 06:09

I hasten to add that the pic isn't mine! I googled for the most like mine though....mine is very like the one in the foreground....with his mouth open. They're the most amazing dogs I think. INcredibly bright and loving but also...like wild animal too. Own minds and very independent. Loves people to he knows passionately but walk within about 20 feet of my fence and he's mad about it barking and growling.

All I have to do is say "It's alright" and he stops.

Drogonssmile · 24/05/2019 06:14

My dog sniffed and bothered about what turned out to be malignant melanoma on my step dads leg. He's fine now and it's 15 years ago so I don't want to alarm you but best get it checked.

Drogonssmile · 24/05/2019 06:18

@LightDrizzle I haven't got a pic but my dog was a collie cross spaniel I think they are called a Sprolly nowadays Confused

MCC85 · 24/05/2019 06:20

My dog knew when I was going to go into labour, he refused to eat (very unlike him), he refused to move off his bed to go out...Again not like him, he was whining, and generally being quite worrying, I in fact nearly rung the vet as I thought he was ill.

4 hours later I was in labour, without any previous sign, and 24hrs later I gave birth.....the dog snapped instantly back to his daft self when I was breathing it out on my birth ball....he tried to sit on it!

I hope you DH is ok, and your dog is just being affectionate, but please do badger him to be seen, even if there isn't anything (hopefully) it will do him no harm having a MOT.

Hotpinkangel19 · 24/05/2019 06:32

Another one here who thinks he should see a GP. Hope it's nothing but worth checking.

Verastsnhope · 24/05/2019 07:04

Mine was a Husky/German shepherd and massively protective of me ( as the man who forced my front door found out )

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