Floppy-eared detective sniffs out C. difficile at VGH

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – They aren’t just cute faces: working dogs responsible for checking out luggage at airports for drugs or explosives.

Canada’s first superbug-sniffing dog is about to start his job at a local hospital.

Floppy ears and a happy-go-lucky disposition may not exactly scream superbug detective. But Angus the springer-spaniel has passed his tests and is ready to find C. difficile in the rooms of Vancouver General Hospital.

His skills are important because C. difficile is very hard to detect. It attacks people who have immune systems that have been weakened by antibiotics.

VGH already uses light radiation to decontaminate areas that may or may not contain traces of the bug.

Angus will be able to determine which rooms need to be cleaned. His trainer decided to prep him for the job after being hit with the infection.

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