Family laughed off dogs’ odd habit of licking dad’s head — but doctors were alarmed by what they really sensed
Animals have long been known for their instincts, especially when it comes to sensing emotions or changes in their surroundings. For many pet owners, their dogs often seem to know when something is wrong, even before anyone else does. That’s exactly what happened in one family’s story, shared by Reddit user u/silkedcosmo. What began as an odd habit of the dogs licking one side of their dad’s head would later mean much more.
The story, shared by a family member online, began with two dogs and their unexpected behavior around their dad. “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 person recalled. What made it strange was that they focused on just one side, and they were always drawn to the same spot. At the time, the family thought it was just cute and a little odd. “We never really looked too deep into it." This went on for nearly two years, and the family had grown so used to it that they hardly noticed anymore.
Their dad was a marathon runner and loved staying active, but eventually started feeling pain in his leg. Thinking it was just muscle-related, he didn’t worry too much until a fall while on holiday made him seek medical advice. After returning home, doctors found no physical injury and referred him to a neurologist. That’s when the truth came out. A cancerous tumor had formed in his brain, “and where was it? The exact spot in his brain that my dogs were licking over.” The dogs had sensed something long before anyone else had.
After doctors removed as much of the tumor as they could, the dogs never licked his head again. “It’s been almost five years since my dad’s terminal brain cancer diagnosis,” the family shared. Since then, he has also been diagnosed with motor neuron disease. Despite everything, the family’s dog has stayed by his side. “My dog has remained my dad’s most loyal, supportive best friend,” the user wrote.
Many other users also came forward to share their personal experiences. u/akd7791 shared, "My dad's dog has woken him up in the middle of the night when his blood sugar is low. He woke up and checked it, and it was dangerously low. Dogs are literally lifesavers." Another user, u/Boomerang87 wrote, "Dogs are so intuitive. My dog knew I was pregnant before I did. I’d wake up in the morning, and my dog’s head would be resting on my belly, which he’d never done before in the six years that I had him. He did that every morning until my son was born. Dogs are the best."