BUSINESS TRENDS
The role of wearable technology in veterinary research
By Asaf Dagan, DVM
Photo provided by PetPace
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n the ever-evolving field of veterinary research, staying ahead means embracing innovation. That’s why advancements in wearable and mobile health technologies have sparked a revolution in how animal health is monitored for research.

Wearable Technology: Advancements in Remote Measurements
Wearable technology has emerged as a vital tool for researchers, offering a glimpse into the lives of pets outside the confines of a lab. By enabling the remote monitoring of multiple pets simultaneously, researchers can observe animals in their natural environments for a more reliable and authentic picture, avoiding the “white coat effect” or the interference of measurements on the measured parameters. In turn, wearable technology enables projects to efficiently increase in scale by monitoring many subjects at once.

With advancements in miniaturized sensors, modern smart collars can house several measurement devices within a single device that can be worn as a normal pet collar. Due to this streamlined design, smart collars can now collect real-time data across a variety of vital signs and biometrics, including temperature, pulse, HRV, respiration rate, posture, activity levels and more.

Big Data: Capturing High-Frequency Data Collection
The continuous feed of data enabled by remote wearable devices allows for the collection of large and detailed data sets. With data being collected continuously, thousands of data points are collected each day, which are then uploaded to the cloud to be stored in online databases. Given streamlined access to unprecedented amounts of precise data, researchers are able to quickly access and effectively analyze the information to unlock key insights.
Artificial Intelligence: Unlocking the Power of Machine Learning
Advancements in machine learning technology have enabled AI models to compare a wide range of data points to identify insights that could otherwise go unnoticed. In addition to basic measurements, such models can help identify larger health trends such as pain, sleep quality and overall wellness.

As with any use case, AI models become more powerful when provided with more data to learn from. Therefore, when data is collected from an animal over a longer period, AI can better identify baselines unique to the animal and can help discover potential diseases before they would otherwise be noticed. By leveraging advanced machine learning technology, researchers can identify anomalies and learnings like never before.

in surgical centers, veterinarians are using smart collars to manage post-op care.
Use Cases: The Role of Wearable Technology in Veterinary Research
Modern smart collars enable researchers to collect unparalleled insights across a range of applications. In pharmaceutical research, scientists are using wearable technology to remotely track the vital signs of animals during clinical trials. In surgical centers, veterinarians are using smart collars to manage post-op care. Even in the world of dog training, animal behaviorists are using smart collars and AI technology to identify when dogs are stressed to help improve training methods.

Another area that’s a growing trend is TeleVet Medicine. In the U.S., the TeleVet Medicine market is $137M annually and projected to reach $900M in just a few years. Wearable smart collars can help triage the pet while on a virtual visit, allowing the vet to make decisions based on objective data rather than subjective information from the pet owner. This elevates the TeleVet experience for better outcomes.

Wearable technology is reshaping the landscape of pet health research. By providing researchers with the tools they need to gather real-time data from animals in their natural environments, this technology is unlocking new possibilities for understanding and improving pet health.

Asaf Dagan headshot
Asaf Dagan is the Chief Veterinary Scientist & Co-Founder at PetPace™. Dr. Dagan is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP), specializing in Canine and Feline medicine. He is also certified in veterinary acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS). In addition, he successfully completed advanced training in diagnostic ultrasound, laser surgery techniques, and orthopedics. Dr. Dagan graduated with honors from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and was admitted to Phi-Zeta, the Veterinary Honor Society. He practiced small animal veterinary medicine in esteemed veterinary hospitals in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Israel, treating a variety of health issues, diseases, surgical and emergency/trauma cases.
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