Technology Applied to Animal Welfare: Smart Collars, Activity Monitoring, and Pet Health Apps
Technology has made a powerful entry into pet care, becoming a key tool for improving animal welfare. In recent years, smart collars and wearable devices have emerged that allow for real-time monitoring of a dog or cat's location, activity, and health.
PETS
8/1/20257 min read
Introduction
Technology has made a powerful entry into pet care, becoming a key tool for improving animal welfare. In recent years, smart collars and wearable devices have emerged that allow for real-time monitoring of a dog or cat's location, activity, and health (1). These digital solutions coincide with a sharp increase in pet adoption: it's estimated that nearly 45% of U.S. households have at least one dog (2), a proportion that continues to grow, driven by lifestyle changes (urbanization, busy routines) and the influence of social media. In this context, more and more owners are looking for integrated solutions that allow them to watch over their pets via smartphone apps (3). Far from being a luxury, pet technology has become essential for daily care, improving their safety and health (4).
Smart Collars
Smart collars for dogs and cats are "wearable" devices equipped with GPS, biometric sensors, and wireless connectivity (5). They function similarly to a human smartwatch but are designed to meet a pet's specific needs. These collars can track the animal's exact location in real-time, measure its physical activity (steps, exercise, rest), and even monitor vital signs like heart rate and temperature (6). Industry leaders like Halo Collar (backed by Cesar Millan) and SpotOn stand out for their tracking precision and advanced features like geofencing and live monitoring (7). Overall, smart collars facilitate the early detection of health or behavioral anomalies, providing peace of mind to owners and improving preventive care.
GPS Location: Real-time tracking with geofences. They allow you to instantly locate your pet if it leaves a safe zone (6).
Physical Activity: Records steps, exercise time, and sleep patterns. This data helps assess the animal's physical condition (6).
Health Monitoring: Some models incorporate sensors for body temperature, heart rate, and even weight tracking to alert you to potential underlying issues (8).
Smart Notifications: Alerts on your smartphone when the pet strays from a permitted area or when abnormal health values are detected (9).
Benefits: Smart collars offer innovative solutions to common problems. They provide security and peace of mind, allowing owners to locate their pet at all times (10). They contribute to disease prevention by monitoring activity and vital signs, giving warnings before serious symptoms appear (10). They also make it easier to establish healthy routines: objective data on exercise and sleep helps in adjusting diets and play or walking schedules (11). Some models even include microphones or speakers, allowing you to communicate with or soothe your pet remotely. In general, these technologies give owners greater autonomy; automated alerts and geofences reduce the need for constant supervision (10, 12).
Limitations: When choosing a smart collar, it’s important to evaluate:
Compatibility: It must be suitable for the animal's size and weight (13).
Battery Life: Varies by model; some require frequent recharging (13).
Durability: Waterproofing and robustness are recommended for very active dogs or those with outdoor access (14).
Connectivity: Many GPS collars require a mobile data subscription, which incurs periodic costs (15).
Privacy: You must confirm that the manufacturer protects the personal and location information collected (16).
Cost: The integration of GPS, sensors, and cellular communication makes these collars notably expensive (17), and they often involve additional service fees (17, 18).
Activity and Health Monitoring Devices
Beyond GPS collars, other wearables (bracelets, harnesses, or patches) exist to track a pet's health and activity. These devices often include accelerometers and pedometers similar to those for humans, measuring steps and movement patterns (19). They can also have biometric sensors that monitor vital signs like heart rate, respiration, or temperature (20). All this data is sent in real-time to a mobile app or the cloud, where the owner and veterinarian can review it (21). This provides professionals with a continuous patient history, which facilitates more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatments (22). Systems with AI have even been developed to analyze the history: more than half of veterinarians acknowledge that AI tools accelerate the interpretation of large volumes of data (23), improving their clinical response capability.
Activity Trackers: Measure steps, exercise time, and sleep, offering a comprehensive view of the animal's activity level (19). They help detect sedentary behavior or anxiety through changes in rest patterns.
Vital Sign Sensors: Bracelets or patches that record heart rate, respiration, and body temperature. They are especially useful for animals with chronic illnesses (diabetes, heart conditions, etc.), as they allow for the verification of treatment effectiveness (20).
Location/Behavior Monitors: Ubiquitous GPS tracking devices that also detect changes in activity (for example, a dog that barks or moves unusually) to identify stress or escape attempts (24).
Metabolic Sensors: For example, devices to measure glucose in pets with diabetes. The use of sensors on sweat or skin that detect biomarkers is also being researched, expanding real-time health indicators (25).
The information from these systems requires professional interpretation. For example, an accelerometer might show less movement in a geriatric dog, but this could be due to seasonal cooling or increasing arthritis. Veterinarians apply their clinical judgment alongside this data. In fact, while AI facilitates information processing (55% adoption in diagnostics) (23), experts warn that interpreting results without clinical context can lead to errors (26). In short, these monitors enrich diagnostics (e.g., post-operative monitoring or management of chronic diseases) (22) but always under veterinary supervision.
Mobile Health and Wellness Apps
Specialized mobile apps for pets greatly facilitate the management of their daily health. They allow the owner to keep a detailed record of vaccinations, vet appointments, medication, weight, and feeding—all from their smartphone (27, 28). For example, 11Pets offers a complete platform to centralize a pet's medical information—vaccinations, deworming, treatments, and weight control—sending alerts for appointment or medication reminders (27). Similarly, Dog Cat App works as a digital diary: it records data like weight and vaccinations, saves monthly photos of growth, and documents daily feeding and hygiene routines (28).
In addition to medical management, there are training and lifestyle apps. For example, Puppr provides over 100 video lessons to train your dog (sit, shake, walk on a leash, etc.) (29). Dogo is another training app with personalized exercises that includes walk tracking, health reminders, and weight logging (30). There are also apps focused on socialization and services: Doguify is a social network with maps of dog-friendly routes and events (31), Rover connects owners with professional pet sitters or dog walkers (32), and SrPerro helps find pet-friendly businesses, hotels, and restaurants (33).
In general, typical features of these apps include vaccination and medication schedules, food ration calculators, weight tracking, symptom diaries, and note pages. However, the reliability of the data depends on the user's careful record-keeping. Veterinarians warn that these apps should be used as support but do not replace a professional consultation (26). It is essential to validate the information with your primary veterinarian and protect your privacy: medical and location data are sensitive and require secure handling (26, 34).
Technology and Product Comparisons
Within each device category, multiple options with different features exist. For example, GPS collars vary in coverage and battery life: some offer global coverage via mobile data, while others only work within specific countries. Battery life can range from a few days to weeks, depending on the frequency of data transmission. A market analysis shows that the most comprehensive devices (GPS + health sensors + cellular connectivity) are significantly more expensive (17). More affordable solutions may omit advanced features (for example, simple pedometers instead of GPS). When comparing products, it's a good idea to check their durability (waterproofing), the ease of use of the associated app, and the service conditions (the need for a subscription) (17, 35). Some comparisons highlight that devices like SpotOn or Halo offer similar features (geofences, live tracking) but differ in price and ergonomics (7). Ultimately, the choice should be based on the specific needs of the animal and owner: pet size, type of activity, geographic environment, and budget.
Expert Opinions
Animal health professionals highlight the benefits of these technologies but also caution against potential issues. The British Veterinary Association reported that 55% of veterinarians use AI tools for diagnosis, particularly valuing the ability to interpret large volumes of data quickly (23). For their part, Spanish veterinarians from the animal behavior group (AVEPA) note that AI can personalize treatments by analyzing complete clinical histories (36), which improves diagnostic accuracy in complex cases. However, many experts insist that this data should not be interpreted in isolation: 83% of British veterinarians warned of the risk of drawing conclusions without clinical context (26). In fact, it has been mentioned that over-relying on technology could reduce direct observation, a risk identified by 68% of those surveyed (26). In summary, the professional recommendation is to use collars and apps as a complement to routine care and to always maintain open communication with the veterinarian.
Ethical and Privacy Considerations
The intensive use of technology in animal care raises important ethical debates. On one hand, the privacy of the collected data (location, vital signs, habits) is a critical aspect: experts highlight the lack of clear regulation and warn of the need to protect this sensitive data (26, 34). On the other hand, it's emphasized that these devices should not cause stress or limit the pet's natural life. An uncomfortable collar or excessive tracking can become a source of anxiety; it has even been raised as a concern that technology should never replace human affection and interaction (34, 37). There is also the issue of technological over-reliance: more than 65% of veterinarians warn that trusting automatic systems too much can undermine the caregiver's skills and divert attention from the animal's own signals (26). For this reason, specialists recommend using these tools with judgment, always ensuring they respect the animal's autonomy and basic needs (38). Ultimately, technology can enhance the well-being of dogs and cats, but it must be used responsibly and ethically, as a support for the natural bond between the owner and their pet.
Sources: Information compiled from recent articles and studies on technology in veterinary medicine (1, 2, 7, 34, 39, 40) (among others). Each statement is based on current specialized sources.
(1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 35) Collares inteligentes para mascotas: salud y seguridad | GMX Seguros
(2, 3, 17, 18) Informe sobre el tamaño y la cuota de mercado de los collares inteligentes para mascotas (2024-2032)
https://www.gminsights.com/es/industry-analysis/smart-pet-collar-market
(4, 34, 37, 38) Dispositivos inteligentes para mascotas | PandaAncha.mx
(7) Tecnología para Mascotas: Cómo los Collares Inteligentes
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(23, 26, 40) Uno de cada cinco veterinarios utiliza inteligencia artificial en su trabajo diario
(27, 29, 31, 32, 33) 14 apps para mascotas y dueños de perros, gatos y otros animales de compañía
https://www.xataka.com/basics/14-apps-para-mascotas-duenos-perros-gatos-otros-animales-compania
(28, 30) Cinco aplicaciones esenciales para el cuidado y entrenamiento de su mascota
(36) Veterinarios españoles analizan el impacto de la inteligencia artificial en la medicina del comportamiento animal
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