Hi Saddlebag Notes friends! I’m Emma, a cheerful, little bichon-poodle mix living here in SaddleBrooke with my human, Bill. You may have seen us out walking on the golf course paths or cruising in our golf cart. In this column, I share a dog’s-eye view on your questions about life, pets, neighbors and all the little things that make our community special—always with kindness, honesty and a wagging tail!
By the way, I do have my very own website and blog, Life With Emma in the Desert, where I post new stories every few weeks at emmathewhitedog.com. I’d love for you to visit and subscribe!
Q: Can dogs smell or sense disease in humans?
— Wondering in Unit 12
Hi friend,
Yes, we absolutely can—at least some of us! Our sense of smell is thousands of times more sensitive than yours, and that means we can pick up all sorts of things you can’t. Changes in your scent, body chemistry or behavior? We notice.
Some specially trained dogs can detect cancer, low blood sugar, seizures and even COVID-19—all just by sniffing! And even without training, many of us notice when something’s off. I’ve heard stories of dogs who became extra clingy or alert just before their humans got a diagnosis they didn’t expect.
Now, I’m not a medical dog (I skipped vet school), but I do know when Bill is stressed, sad or just a little “off,” I stick close, offer cuddles and sometimes nudge him with my nose just to say, “I’m here; I know.”
I do have first-paw experience with illness and humans. My human mom, Joanne, passed away three years ago this February from cancer. When she became sick, I didn’t need words or explanations—I just knew. I stayed close, rested quietly by her side and offered what dogs do best: calm presence, warmth and unconditional love. We understand when something is ending, and we understand that our job is not to fix it, but to be there. When Joanne was gone, I also knew when it was time to turn my heart toward my human, Bill. I stayed near, watched over him and still do—checking in, offering comfort and reminding him every day that love doesn’t disappear when someone is gone. It just changes shape, and dogs are very good at holding it.
So, if your dog seems especially tuned in to you, trust that it comes from a place of deep love, quiet understanding and a nose that knows more than we’ll ever admit. Sometimes the most important care doesn’t come from medicine, but from simply not being alone.
Paws and good health,
Emma
Have a question for me? I’d love to hear from you!
Email Emmathewhitedog@gmail.com, mention you saw me in Saddlebag Notes, and I might answer it in a future column.
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