Suki Sniffs It: Can a Gluten Sniffing Dog Detect Trace Amounts of Gluten from Cross Contact?

This is probably the question I get asked more than any other, so I decided to just show you in a popular video Here's what happened when I tested Suki on a plate that looked completely clean.

Q: What exactly did you test?

I put together a plate of gluten-free food and had Suki check it. She cleared it. Safe. I also had her check the fork, because when you have celiac disease, everything that touches your food matters. This test would be similar to if someone had cooked something with gluten in the pan before cooking something gluten-free.

Then I pulled out my jar of gluten that I keep on hand for training, took out a blob of it, and placed it right on that same plate she had just cleared. Had her check it again. She detected it right away. Honestly, that part was pretty easy for her.

Then I made it harder.

Q: What happened when you made it harder?

I took that blob of gluten back off the plate. To look at it, the plate seemed totally clean again. But what was left behind were trace amounts, and that's exactly what happens in a restaurant when someone touches your food with gluten, or puts something on your plate and removes it without washing the plate well with soap and water.

I had Suki check that plate again.

She detected it.

That's what a gluten detection celiac service dog can do. She catches what I can't see, and that's what keeps me safer when I'm eating out.

Q: Does she get a treat no matter what?

Yes, always. She gets a treat whether the food is gluten or gluten-free. She has alerts for both and they hold the same value to her.  If I only rewarded for gluten, she would get very tired of the game because the majority of times she checks my food it is gluten-free because that means I can eat it. Suki does her job consistently because that's how she was trained, and that consistency is what I count on.

Q: Why is cross contact such a big deal for people with celiac disease?

When you have celiac disease, trace amounts of gluten can trigger immediate symptoms or symptoms that last for weeks, but even if you have no outward symptoms, it triggers your immune system and damages your small intestine. It is not just a tummy ache, it is so much more. It's an autoimmune disease, not a preference. And eating out is one of the biggest risks, because you're trusting other people to keep your food safe.

Someone could touch your food after handling gluten. Gluten could transfer to your plate and get wiped off. A utensil could be contaminated. The food looks fine but it isn't. That's where Suki helps protect me.

Q: Where can I learn more about getting a gluten sniffing dog?

I have resources on my website celiacservicedogs.com where I share what I know about starting the process. I also offer one-on-one consultations if you want to talk through whether this is the right path for you. And if you're thinking about getting a puppy to train for gluten detection, I have courses available that will help you find the right dog for your needs. If you have a dog you are interested in training, this blog post will help you learn if your dog is a good candidate for training.

As a celiac service dog handler who made lots of mistakes when I trained my dog, I don't want you to make the same mistakes. I want to help you start the process correctly, and work with the trainers who will help you train your dog.

Watch the Suki the Gluten Detection Dog Detect Gluten from Cross Contact

Have a question about celiac service dogs? Leave it in the comments. I read all of them.