This Beverly Hills star's dog 'obsessively' sniffed her right breast for a long time - then a doctor's visit revealed why

Late Beverly Hills star Shannen Doherty often marked her pet dog as her most loved family member. Her life was incomplete without Bowie, a German Shepherd, who not only filled her life with love and laughter but also brought her attention to a serious problem. While the world knows Bowie as a celebrity pet, the reality star once revealed the significant role she played in a health battle that claimed the actress's life years later. 

The Charmed star said that Bowie would annoy her by constantly sniffing her right breast a year before her cancer diagnosis. It wasn’t until later that she realized her dog’s strange behavior was a warning sign. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Doherty recalled, “She would obsessively sniff right here on my right side for a long time before. So, it made sense when I got diagnosed." Months later, the actor, 45 at the time, was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2015. Following the diagnosis, she underwent about eight rounds of chemotherapy and a single mastectomy. 

Bowie’s attempts to protect her owner did not stop post-detection of the cancer. When she got back from surgery, Bowie continued to obsess over Doherty’s right-hand side of the body. “Then, when I had my first chemo, she would sniff my entire body up and down. And she was always protective before, but she has become this crazy, protective dog. It's hard to get close to me when she's around,” the late celeb told the outlet. 

In 2017, she was happy to announce that she was in remission, but the cancer returned two years later. Within another five years, it had spread to her lymph nodes in her bones, making the treatment all the more rigorous. Regardless of her health battle, Doherty’s unique bond with Bowie only grew stronger.

Months before her passing, the reality star celebrated her pet dog’s birthday with a tribute post on Instagram in March 2024.  “Happy birthday to the best dog in the world. I love you to an obsessive point,” she captioned the post, mentioning Bowie’s personal social media page, @missbowiedoherty. The post included a carousel of pictures of the purebred German Shepherd, one wearing an adorable pink vest with “Security” labeled on it. 

The Little House on the Prairie star named her dog after late music legend David Bowie. Every aspect of her life involved Bowie, and she expressed a heartwarming last wish before her untimely death that left many teary-eyed. In one of her podcast episodes, Let’s Be Clear, Doherty revealed what she wanted to be done with her remains. “I want [my remains] to be mixed with my dog, and I want it to be mixed with my dad. I do not want to be buried and not cremated,” she said, hoping someone would use her ashes to "grow them into a tree."

Besides her love for Bowie, Doherty was also a passionate animal activist and advocated for rescuing animals, as reported by PEOPLE. Doherty succumbed to her health battle with cancer on July 13, 2024. She was 53.