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2-year-old dog tried to bite and scratch a mole on her owner’s back — but ended up saving her life

If your dog shows signs of discomfort or agitation around a mole or skin lesion, it might be worth consulting a dermatologist.

BY PAHUL NANRA

PUBLISHED 6 HOURS AGO

(L) A middle-aged woman with her pet dog. (R) A doctor checking a mole on a woman's back. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) GoodLifeStudio, (R) Wavebreakmedia)

Dogs have long been known for their remarkable ability to sense changes in their environment, often displaying behaviors that leave their owners puzzled. In one particular case, a then 43-year-old woman noticed her 2-year-old rescue dog acting unusually around a mole on her back. The pup would frequently sniff at the mole, become agitated, and try to scratch and bite it, leading the woman to wonder if there was more to the behavior than just curiosity.

Young woman hugging her dog - Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Anastasiia Krivenok — Woman hugging her dog. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Anastasiia Krivenok)

As reported by Ralph A. Massey MD, the mole turned out to be a melanoma (a type of skin cancer caused by melanocytes) after a biopsy was taken. The rescue dog's unusual behavior was later understood to be a reaction to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by the malignant melanocytes in the mole. These compounds differ from those released by normal moles and can be detected by a dog’s keen sense of smell. Dogs' olfactory abilities can sometimes pick up on these VOCs, alerting them to potential health concerns that humans might miss.

A male doctor talking to a female patient. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Momo Productions — A male doctor talking to a female patient. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Momo Productions)

According to the National Library of Medicine, dogs' sense of smell is far more advanced than humans', allowing them to detect specific odors with remarkable precision. Their olfactory abilities are so refined that dogs can identify scents related to drugs, explosives, emotions, and even illnesses like COVID-19. Studies show that dogs can detect changes in human cell metabolism, which makes them valuable in the early detection of health conditions. With their incredible sensitivity, they can track odors in real-time, even in crowded or complex environments. This unique ability is helping humans use dogs for tasks beyond traditional detection work, such as identifying emotional states and detecting diseases.

Woman lying on a hospital bed. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Gorodenkoff — Woman lying on a hospital bed. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Gorodenkoff)

This case highlights the importance of paying attention to your pet's behavior, especially if they seem fixated on a particular area of your body. If your dog shows signs of discomfort or agitation around a mole or skin lesion, it might be worth consulting a dermatologist. "If your dog doesn’t like the smell of it, your dermatologist may not like the look of it," mentioned Ralph Massey, MD.

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It also isn't the first time a pet was able to detect its owner's major health concerns. In another recent incident, two family dogs began acting unusually by licking the same spot on their dad’s head. At first, it seemed like an odd habit, but it later proved to be a serious medical condition. "Any chance they could get, they'd prop themselves up onto the back of the couch and lick the side of my dad’s head," the owner recalled. The family initially dismissed the behavior, not realizing it could be a sign of something more. It wasn’t until their dad experienced leg pain and a fall that doctors discovered a cancerous tumor in his brain, located exactly where the dogs had been licking. After the tumor was removed, the dogs never licked that spot again. "My dog has remained my dad’s most loyal, supportive best friend,” the owner added.