Canine Nominated for Valor Award Makes the Case for Animal's Sixth Sense

Perhaps the abbreviations for positron emission tomography (PET)--a nuclear imaging technique which provides radiologists a three-dimensional image, and the CT Scanner (CAT-Scan)--a highly sophisticated diagnostic X-ray technology, make these scanning devices far more patient friendly, especially to animal lovers, than the scientists inventing these devices could possibly imagine. I mean, after all, it can be somewhat intimidating and a bit unnerving when our doctors think it's necessary for us to be scanned, so it is possible that these abbreviations (PET and CAT-Scan) may work to reduce our anxiety a bit, and may make us associate these types of scans with a certain sixth sense that our animals have in finding illnesses. In regards to this sixth sense of animals, you may wonder what I am basing my rather bizarre hypothesis on, but presently there is highly reliable scientific evidence backing up my theory. Featured in a blog item I wrote several months ago talking about highly trained canines able to accurately diagnose cancer and diabetes, as well as in a fascinating article written by Elisa Black published on the "Pictures of Cats" website, felines, with their highly sensitive psyches, are capable not only of predicting earthquakes and other natural disasters, but can sense when their human is seriously ill. Additionally, companion animals, including dogs, seem to possess a "sixth sense" when it comes to predicting illness and even death. As I was reading an email from a friend containing this remarkable dog story, I knew I could rest my case regarding animals and their sixth sense. According to an article on Oregonlive.com, nominated as one of the 10 finalists for the Humane Society of the United States' Dog Valor Award is Ceili, a "cranky" 15 year-old Lab-mix owned by Dan Fincher, 62, of North Portland, Oregon. Ceili spent one steamy August day following Dan from room to room, shadowing him wherever he went. When Dan sat in his easy-chair, Ceili licked his arms and legs, jumped up beside him and smelled his breath. Dan said, "She was driving me nuts." Later in the evening, when he was brushing his teeth, Ceili tugged at his shorts. And when he started upstairs to go to bed, suffering with "indigestion", his aged canine tried to keep him from climbing the stairs by nipping at his feet, pulling off a shoe; Ceili knew something was wrong. Minutes later, Dan suffered a heart attack. Ceili sprang into action right away, preventing Dan from crawling up the stairs by tugging him down, then ran to find Dan's wife, Gayle, who was watching television. Running back and forth between the two, Ceili kept barking incessantly until Gayle went to check on her husband. Dan was immediately taken to Legacy Medical Center where he was treated within 20 minutes of his heart attack. While some of these items are scientific and some purely anecdotal, being an owner of two extremely tuned in kitties comforts me since, if I am ever in need of an immediate CAT scan or other medical attention, I am rather positive they will rise to the occasion and alert those who need to know. Do you think your pets might save your life? Leave a comment and let us know. Image Source: Oregonlive.com