Sep 14 2015
PetPace, the provider of an innovative IoT collar for remote real-time monitoring and analysis of pet vital signs and activity, today released the findings of a new medical case study. The case study, which details new developments in medical monitoring for pets, available for download here, documents in detail how the PetPace collar detected multiple physiological and behavioral changes for a dog suffering from acute gastroenteritis.
Jack, a five-year-old neutered male Shepherd mixed dog, suffered from severe gastroenteritis and required medical treatment. Acute gastroenteritis, or inflammation of the digestive tract, is common in dogs because of their tendency for indiscriminate eating. Disruption of the delicate intestinal balance causes symptoms which typically include vomiting, diarrhea, inappetence and lethargy.
According to Jack's owner, soon after consuming deer feces during a walk, Jack began showing symptoms of acute gastroenteritis. He required medical treatment and antibiotics and only after five days, returned to normal. During his illness, a PetPace collar documented the multiple physiological and behavioral changes affecting Jack.
Notably, Jack's pulse rate increased significantly during this period, as can be seen from the graph. A minute-by-minute monthly pulse tracing showed an accumulation of elevated pulse data points during the days of the illness, and the acute elevation was even more clear when Jack's pulse from the night hours was analyzed.
Other PetPace findings that indicated illness included:
- Increased Respiratory Rate: Jack's respiratory rate was mildly increased in the first days of his illness
- Decreased Appetite: Jack spent no time in the eating/drinking position for the duration of the illness
- Decreased Activity: Jack's activity level decreased during the sick days but gradually increased after clinical signs resolved
- Increased Recumbence: Jack spent less time standing and more time lying down during sick days - indicative of weakness and lethargy
- HRV Indications: Jack's Heart Rate Variability (HRV) indices, general markers for pain and stress, clearly indicated the days he was not feeling well
The findings from Jack's case clearly demonstrate how the PetPace system, by monitoring and analyzing multiple physiological and behavioral parameters, can provide highly-sensitive, real time indications for a wide variety of health problems.
Dr. Asaf Dagan, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Canine and Feline practice), and PetPace's Chief Veterinarian, noted, "The changes in vital signs and behavioral patterns seen in this case provide a general indication for an acute health problem, alerting the owner to seek medical advice. The veterinary practitioner can access this data in real time - confirming the presence of a problem, assessing its severity and monitoring response to treatment and recovery."
Jack's owner, Mr. Ken Herring of Grosse Ile, MI, said, "It's nice to have quantitative info to see that the meds were working and that there wasn't a more serious problem."
Source: http://petpace.com/