If you worry about your pet’s health and wish you could understand what your dog is feeling, this interview introduces a device that brings you closer to your pet’s inner state.
Petpace received a grant from the BIRD Foundation, which fosters business and innovation between American and Israeli companies. Avi Menkes, President & CEO of Petpace, joins us to explain the technology. Thank you for speaking with us.
Thank you for having me.
What is the Petpace collar?
Petpace is a digital platform designed to improve pet health through continuous, non-invasive monitoring. Our smart collar measures seven bio-sensing parameters: temperature, pulse, respiration, indicators of pain/stress/disease (we call it outward viability), calories burned, body position, and activity level. If any parameter falls outside normal ranges, the system sends an alert to the pet owner or veterinarian via smartphone notification, email, or phone call.
How does the system work?
The collar comes in three sizes—small, medium, and large—and mounts comfortably on the pet’s neck without shaving or invasive procedures. After switching the collar on and connecting a base station to the home or office router, the device begins collecting vital signs and establishing a baseline for that specific pet. The data is transmitted to cloud servers where an analytics engine continuously evaluates it for anomalies, generating alerts when necessary.
How do you measure the pet’s position and movement?
The collar functions like a sophisticated, wearable stethoscope. It listens to blood flow in the neck to capture pulse and respiration and uses accelerometers to measure motion and body position. Our software interprets positions—right side, left side, standing, lying on the back, urinating, eating, and more. Understanding these patterns helps detect subtle changes that can indicate pain or illness.
Pets are creatures of habit. If a dog normally lies on its right side for much of the day and suddenly stops, that change may signal discomfort or a developing condition on the right side. When behavioral or positional patterns shift, Petpace issues an alert so the owner or veterinarian can investigate early.
Can multiple people, such as the owner and veterinarian, view the data?
Yes. The digital platform is a shared dashboard. Pet owners see a summary of their pet’s health and activity, while veterinarians can access full, detailed data points by logging into the cloud application. This enables vets to review trends and make recommendations even before the pet arrives at the clinic—allowing for earlier intervention and more informed care.
What inspired you to develop this device?
My background is in remote sensing, and I wanted to apply that expertise to help living beings. I began researching animal health monitoring and partnered with our chief veterinarian to design a practical, non-invasive solution. Development started in February 2012 with the goal of giving pets a voice through data.
How long was the collar in development, and when did it launch?
Development took about three years, and we launched to market in the first quarter of 2015.
What response have you seen from customers and clinics?
Responses have been positive and diverse. Veterinarians and clinics use Petpace for in-clinic monitoring and internal operations, while concerned pet owners purchase collars online to keep a continuous eye on their pets’ wellbeing. The system is valuable both for individual care and for clinical decision-making.
How accurate is the collar?
Overall accuracy for the measured parameters is in the 85–90% range. The collar reliably detects fever, heart abnormalities such as high or low pulse, and behavioral changes that could indicate pain or illness. We also have documented cases where the system’s alerts led to early detection and timely veterinary care.
Do you use one on your own pet?
Yes—my dog Jake wears a Petpace collar. I can check his live status on my mobile phone: his activity, temperature, pulse, respiration, and position throughout the day. For example, I can see when he was active in the yard, when he slept, and how his pulse and respiration rose with activity. The app displays activity scores and trends that help me monitor Jake’s health and weight management.
Have you discovered any surprising insights from the data?
Yes. Traditional references list typical pulse ranges for dogs, but continuous monitoring in a pet’s natural environment reveals wider variability. For instance, Jake’s pulse while asleep can drop to 38—much lower than some textbook values. Collecting real-world data from pets in their homes shows how breed, geography, elevation, and daily routine affect vital signs, giving veterinarians better context for diagnosis and treatment.
Can this data contribute to veterinary medicine more broadly?
Absolutely. We accumulate large datasets—millions of data points across breeds, ages, sexes, and regions. This “big data” enables pattern recognition and population-level insights that can inform preventive care, breed-specific conditions, and geographically influenced health trends. Over time, these insights can improve clinical guidelines and outcomes.
How much does the collar cost and where can you buy one?
Prices range from $149.95 to $219.95, each including a one-year subscription. Collars are available for purchase through our online store, and orders typically arrive at your doorstep within a few days. We also work with local representatives in countries such as Canada, Spain, and Australia, and plan to expand distribution to more regions.
We can’t wait to try one—thank you for joining us.
Thank you for having me.