Philly Researchers Train Dogs to Detect Deadly Canine Cancer

Penn Vet Working Dog Center teaches dogs to identify hemangiosarcoma, a "silent killer" in dogs.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 4:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Researchers at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center in Philadelphia are training dogs to detect hemangiosarcoma, a devastating and often deadly form of canine cancer. The dogs learn to identify the cancer by smelling blood samples, with an initial success rate of 70%. The goal is to eventually develop an early detection test for this "silent killer" cancer.

Why it matters

Hemangiosarcoma is a particularly dangerous cancer in dogs because it grows undetected until it's too late. Early detection could dramatically improve treatment outcomes, so training dogs to identify the cancer through their superior sense of smell is an innovative approach that could save many canine lives.

The details

The researchers at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center teach the dogs to identify hemangiosarcoma by having them smell three boxes, with one containing a sample of malignant blood. "It really does feel like magic because I can't smell anything from the samples. It's a tiny drop of blood serum," said researcher Clara Wilson. In the first phase of the research, the dogs were able to correctly identify the cancer 70% of the time, earning a treat when they got it right.

  • The research at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center began in 2026.

The players

Penn Vet Working Dog Center

A research facility at the University of Pennsylvania that trains dogs to detect a variety of substances, including drugs, bombs, and medical conditions.

Clara Wilson

A researcher at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center who is leading the effort to train dogs to detect hemangiosarcoma, a deadly form of canine cancer.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It really does feel like magic because I can't smell anything from the samples. It's a tiny drop of blood serum.”

— Clara Wilson, Researcher (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The researchers plan to continue refining the dog training process and look for markers in the blood samples that could be used to develop an early detection test for hemangiosarcoma.

The takeaway

This innovative approach to early cancer detection in dogs showcases the incredible capabilities of canine senses and could lead to life-saving advancements in veterinary medicine. If successful, the research could also have implications for human cancer detection in the future.