As every day tasks become as easy as saying, “Alexa, set a timer for 10 minutes,” it’s no surprise that pet parents are using tech to monitor health, book pet sitting or watch their pet on a webcam, it’s absolutely improving care. The more you know about your dog, the better you can understand his or her needs.
One of the biggest ways technology has changed the pet-care industry is by creating an ecosystem in which owners can easily and quickly connect with reliable services. How is dog tech changing pet care in other ways? Let's take a quick look.
1. The Doggy Fitbit
Many of us love to get our steps in, but whether you have a puppy or an older dog, there are benefits to tracking their steps and too. Even experienced pet owners can benefit from a little support in knowing if their puppy is getting the right amount of exercise.
For puppies, it’s important that they don’t over-exercise when their joints are still developing so there’s no added strain to their young bodies.
For busy families, dog tech like an activity tracker is a helpful indicator of little changes in behaviour that you as an owner may not have otherwise noticed. If they have joint problems or arthritis, this is especially helpful because you can monitor how well they’re moving around and even keep track of their sleep quality.
2. High-tech Crates and Beds
Soothing your anxious dog — even when you’re away — may have gotten easier with the help of technology. ZenCrate by Plug and Play Robotics is designed to relieve your dog’s stress with motion-sensor-activated fans and a calming playlist that turns on when your pet goes inside the crate.
3. Pet Trackers
Do you have a dog that’s an escape artist? Keep tabs on your animals' whereabouts with GPS tracker or microchip. What's the difference between a tracker and a microchip?
A GPS tracker is a device that your dog wears that will allow you to search for it in real time. Let's say your dog gets spooked while you're on a walk and breaks free. You can use the signal from the GPS tracker to pinpoint its location.
A microchip, on the other hand, is like an identification tag that is injected beneath a pet's skin. When a pet gets lost and is picked up by animal control or taken to a vet, it’s typically scanned for a chip. The information from that microchip will then be used to locate the pet's owner. One of the benefits of pet microchipping is that it is permanent and—unlike a GPS collar—cannot fall off an animal.
4. Dog Apps
Let’s face it, apps are great. They make our lives so much easier, are always at our fingertips and there’s one for everything. Why not use them to benefit our dogs?
On apps like Wag and Rover, customers can use their phones to request on-demand dog walking and pet sitting. GPS technology even tracks the walker's route and provides updates to owners about the trip's duration and direction.
If you like to “do good”, WoofTrax helps create fundraising opportunities that benefit local shelters and #dogrescue groups, especially through their Walk for a Dog app. This app encourages dog parents to head outside with their dog and go for walks. Every walk you take helps support a local animal organization of your choice. And, as a bonus, it helps both you and your dog get some exercise and be healthier.
Poochless? Not a problem. Simply use the app to walk for dogs who are currently at a local shelter or rescue group. Just select the “Walk for Sparky” choice after installing the app, which will let them help homeless dogs when they go for a walk on their own.
5. Telehealth for Animals
Makes it possible to connect pet owners to veterinarians, animal nutritionists, and other health experts through online apps, video chats, or over the phone. Another perk is the ability to access and share health records, vet appointments and required vaccinations with boarding facilities or with another vet, in the event of an emergency.
BabelBark makes it possible to connect pet owners to a network of vets and myriad other pet services.
In a nutshell, there’s a lot of awesome #pettech out there and we’re sure it will continue to grow like crazy and hopefully better promote active living for humans and their four-legged friends alike.
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