SDOV Instructions for Collecting Diabetic Scent

Instructions for Collecting Diabetic Scent

We would like you to collect scent when your blood sugar is below 70. You will collect scent by saturating a gauze pad with the odor of your breath.

You may put the gauze pad on your tongue and breathe over it or you may put the pad to your mouth and “spray paint” it with breath on both sides.

Try to collect 5 or more gauze pads of scent with a low.

Put the gauze into a plastic bag. With a ball point pen, write your initials, the date, and the value of the low (55,62, whatever it is),on the sticker and put the sticker on the outside of the plastic bag. Put the plastic bag into the Mason jar and put the jar into the freezer.

When you have 10 to 20 samples, send them to us.

To send them to us, place the Mason jar into the zippered plastic case. Add a cold pack to the case. Pack both into a bubble wrapped envelope and send it over night via UPS to us. Please use UPS so the scent doesn’t sit in our post office box for several days. The post office doesn’t deliver our mail to the door but UPS does.

Our address is:

Service Dogs of Virginia

218 Albemarle Square

Charlottesville, VA 22901

We need the scent collection to be taken before you eat or drink to correct your

low. We need scent to do the training but never endanger yourself if you are concerned about going too low.

Thank you!

Peggy, Linda and Linda

Service Dogs of Virginia

peggylaw@servicedogsva.org

434-295-9503

Conversation 3

Dear Lynn,

I am not sure I know what all your abbreviations mean but here, at long last, is a reply to your questions.

1. Why did you switch from clothing to breath sample? I wish I could say there was a great reason. I think I did it because everyone else was doing it and because people were reluctant to give me their clothes so I could cut them up.

2. How do you capture and preserve breath for sample? We use the the cotton thingy that a dentist puts in your mouth to keep an area dry when she works on your mouth. They resemble mini tampons. You can buy them in quantity. Our clients are instructed in how to collect the sample and I will attach the sheet we give them so you can review it. I am sure some people get the samples more wet and others give us a dryer sample.

3. When using clothing sample, did you ever create 2nd generation sample by hydration?No

4. When using clothing sample, you said that the sample was viable indefinitely.  How long were the cut pieces used in training viable?  I am currently keeping exacting records on this. Honestly, I have no idea about this. While I assume the way its stored would make a difference, I would not know. If we have a trained dog with us, we can test a sample but if we are in any doubt, we toss the sample.

5. What size pieces did you cut from the original? Its been a very long time Lynn and I can barely remember what happened yesterday but I think I used a sample about the size of a finger (for lack of a better analogy). 

6. What was your method of presentation? I no longer recall what we used to do. I can share what we do now. Its with the breath sample but you could do it with the clothing too. Assuming you are talking about the original presentation of the scent, we “show” the dog the scent and he sniffs it because that is what dogs do. We click and treat. We continue to charge the scent for about a minute and do 2 or 3 sessions. If you want to more about what we do after that, let me know.

7. Did you ever use containers when working with the dog?  If so, what kind and how? We use containers very briefly after the scent is charge and before it goes on our body. We have an X shaped fence in our training center so we shove some paper cups into the Xs with a small hole in the bottom. We place scent in one cup and the others are empty. We walk the dogs along the fence and see if he “notices” the scented cup. If he does, we wait a sec for a bump, which is our alert. If he doesn’t bump but has noticed the scent, we cue it. We do this a few times until the dog starts alerting naturally. Then the scent goes on us and is started in a place the dog will find it easily. For example, if we are wearing shorts, we will put the scent in a rolled up cuff near the knee which is right at dog height. Easy access for a nose.

I am happy to explain additional protocols if you like.

Sorry about the long delay. Its just crazy busy all the time.

Peggy

Conversation 2

Thanks so much, Peggy.

When doing the Seizure Alert Project, we primarily used saliva sample for all of our testing, but we also tested using skin swab AND clothing worn next to the skin during a seizure.  All proved to be consistently viable.  At that time, Rachel (Thornton) was my primary reference and I closely followed DAD training protocols.

I am now training my own personal seizure alert dog (one of Rachel’s labs) after losing my former seizure alert/response dog, Lily.  I am seeking information for myself.  I have retired from my work with an organization.  

Having access to training scent sample is difficult and I am fortunate having one reliable resource.  The family also has a SDiT.  They are successfully using clothing sample.  And are providing clothing sample to me.  During the SAP they were our primary source for saliva sample.

1. Why did you switch from clothing to breath sample?

2. How do you capture and preserve breath for sample?

3. When using clothing sample, did you ever create 2nd generation sample by hydration?

4. When using clothing sample, you said that the sample was viable indefinitely.  How long were the cut pieces used in training viable?  I am currently keeping exacting records on this.

5. What size pieces did you cut from the original?

6. What was your method of presentation?

7. Did you ever use containers when working with the dog?  If so, what kind and how?

Here is a link to the Seizure Alert Project. http://testingseizurescent12.blogspot.com 

It is not very user friendly, unfortunately, but you are welcome to any information contained there.

Phase 1 contains all of our testing information and documentation.  

Phases 2-4 address the training protocols.  Raya, my SDiT, is Dog 15.  And this is the phase that addresses all of our conversations and questions I am asking you.

Thanks again for your cooperation.  

Sincerely,

Lynn Shrove

TRAINER NOTES:  7/12/19. Forwarded this same letter to Peggy.

7/12/19
Yikes, it totally slipped by. Let me give it some time this weekend.

So sorry Lynn.

Peggy

Peggy Law
Executive Director
Service Dogs of Virginia
PO Box 408
Charlottesville, VA 22902
434-295-9503
servicedogsva.org

Because life can change in an instant

Conversation 1

6/20/19
Hello, Peggy

Several years ago we were in close communication as I began a small, in-house study to determine the viability of scent captured during and immediately following seizure events.  Rachel Thornton had “introduced” us via the internet and your were most generous sharing your time and experience.

The greatest thing that I learned from you was that in your DAD program you used clothing worn next to the body as your training sample. I need to once again draw upon your knowledge and experience.  

I have a source for clothing sample from a young person who, unfortunately, has seizure on an regular basis.  Altho her parents are using her clothing to train their own SAD, they are willing to share clothing with me from time to time.  Since the majority of our testing for the Seizure Alert Project was done using saliva sample, I am feeing my way as I use the clothing.  I am letting my dog “tell me” when the sample is viable.

But I have some questions.  Unknowns.  And wondered if you might have the time to answer some questions for me.  I would so appreciate your help.

Sincerely,
LS

Of course I will help in any way I can Lynn. But you should know, we switched to breath samples for diabetic alert. I am pretty sure its standard at this point. I would do the same for seizures. We have also trained 2 Addison’s alert dogs which is low cortisol with breath samples.

Peggy

Peggy Law
Executive Director

Service Dogs of Virginia
PO Box 408
Charlottesville, VA 22902
434-295-9503
servicedogsva.org