I still really don’t know what happened. I kind of blacked out before Echo booped me and then passed out?? I have been Daisy’s trainer and assisted Maria in her training. Most of our sessions have been virtual and I never trained her with my own scent. Daisy is clearly a smart girl who knows how to do her job. She caught a scent on me and alerted before Echo did. I was with her while her handler went in for a paramedic job tour. Daisy’s trained for Hyperadrenergic Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or “POTs” but scientifically that means an extreme increases in HR causing the body to release noepinephrine, epinephrine, and histamine. It’s not trained based on a “specific number” but on the extreme increase itself because THIS is what forces your body to release these chemicals (this could mean normal numbers to very high OR very low to a high normal BPM). The body autonomically can’t process huge changes too quickly. That being said, I have Neurogenic POTs. I never really pass out without some sort of pre syncopal warning and I didn’t feel anything before except maybe some confusion and a intense short wave of hot sweats. Thus, I still don’t know exactly what triggered it but I wanted to show off Maria’s dog (and of course Echo too) because they did a good job trying to think independently in those moments to fix an issue in my body.
#MedicalAlertDog #ServiceDog #POTSAwareness #DisabilityAwareness #dogtrainingtips
Having observed and worked closely with medical alert dogs, I can truly appreciate the incredible instinct and training these animals possess. From my experience, dogs like Daisy are not just trained to follow commands but to interpret subtle physiological changes in their handlers. POTs, or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, involves sudden and extreme shifts in heart rate and chemical releases like norepinephrine and histamine, which are difficult for individuals to predict. What stands out is the dog's ability to detect these chemical changes even before the handler feels symptoms. This early alert can be crucial in preventing a full syncope or fainting episode. In one instance, while training a medical alert dog virtually, the dog managed to catch the scent of such a chemical release and alerted before any visible symptoms appeared. This proactive alert gives patients the precious time they need to take protective actions or call for help. It's also important to note that these dogs receive continuous training and adaptation, sometimes virtually, to keep up with their handler’s unique condition patterns. The fact that a dog's alert is not based on a fixed heart rate number but on recognizing extreme changes in body chemistry shows the depth of their training. Medical alert dogs also provide emotional support, especially for people living with disabilities like POTs, which can have unpredictable symptoms. Seeing these dogs think independently and respond compassionately has deepened my respect for the human-animal bond in medical aid contexts. If you or someone you love lives with POTs or similar conditions, considering a service dog trained specifically for this purpose could enhance safety and quality of life. Always collaborate with professional trainers who specialize in medical alert dogs to ensure the best results. Remember, training and bonding with such a dog requires patience, commitment, and trust but offers immense benefits in managing unpredictable health episodes.
