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Spontaneous orienting of untrained companion dogs naïve to human epilepsy toward odor samples from an unfamiliar human in a controlled non-social paradigm: a proof-of-concept.

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Evidence for spontaneous seizure detection by dogs remains limited. This study examined whether ictal odor cues elicit behavioral responses in untrained companion dogs. OBJECTIVE: To test whether dogs naïve to human epilepsy show spontaneous discrimination of ictal versus interictal odor. METHODS: Thirty dogs, without prior seizure exposure, freely investigated three odor stations (ictal, interictal, blank) using sweat samples from a single unfamiliar donor in controlled, non-social conditions. RESULTS: Dogs were more likely to investigate the ictal odor first than expected by chance (Monte Carlo p=0.029), indicating an early orienting bias. No differences emerged in sustained engagement. Structured exploratory patterns occurred only in odor conditions (ictal p=0.001; interictal p=0.002), not in the control (p=0.715). CONCLUSIONS: Ictal odor may carry salience sufficient to influence initial attention in naïve dogs. However, findings are based on a single donor and require replication with multiple individuals to assess generalizability.

Source: Annali dell Istituto Superiore di Sanità

DOI: 10.4415/ann_26_02_10

Authors: Federica Pirrone, Gianfranco Cancelli, Mariangela Albertini

Institutions: University of Milan, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Gruppo Collegato di Cosenza

Language: English

Topic: Human-Animal Interaction Studies

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7164991948

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