July 3, 2024
By Abi Bautista-Alejandre, Assistant Editor
Originally posted on DVM360
The Pregnancy Monitoring Module is a new AI-driven tool designed to help owners and veterinarians monitor a dog’s health throughout pregnancy. By combining wearable technology, continuous biometric tracking, and machine learning, the module aims to improve maternal pet care, reduce reliance on costly or invasive diagnostic procedures, and provide timely predictions of whelping within a 10-day to 12-hour window before labor.
Assessing pregnancy and maternal health in dogs often requires trans-abdominal palpation, ultrasound, or radiographs—procedures that can be expensive and, in some cases, invasive. The PetPace Pregnancy Monitoring Module seeks to supplement these traditional methods by delivering near real-time health data and alerts so owners and veterinary teams can make better-informed decisions without unnecessary interventions.
Developed by PetPace, a company that builds wearable health-monitoring devices for pets, the Pregnancy Monitoring Module leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to analyze continuous biometric signals from an expectant dam. According to the company, the platform provides actionable insights, highlights warning signs that may require veterinary attention, and issues forecasts for impending whelping. The module was evaluated in clinical testing involving multiple dogs to validate its performance in real-world conditions.
PetPace says the module is intended to support data-driven care throughout the pregnancy lifecycle. “The Pregnancy Monitoring Module will allow our users to deepen their commitment to their pets’ health and step further into their roles as caretakers,” said Asaf Dagan, DVM, Dip ABVP and PetPace co-founder. “The precision of these predictions helps to narrow down the time of whelping, allowing for better preparedness by the owners.”
Experts involved in the development and study of the technology emphasized its potential for both breeders and researchers. Smadar Tal, DVM, Dip. ECAR, PhD, a reproduction specialist who guided and oversaw the study, commented that accurate data collection and analysis through gestation and into whelping could provide valuable new insights and practical benefits for those who care for pregnant dogs.
The module operates in three defined stages:
- Learning Stage: The system gathers baseline biometric data to create an AI-powered profile tailored to the individual dog. This baseline supports more accurate interpretation of changes over time.
- Gestation Health Monitoring Stage: Continuous tracking of temperature, activity, heart rate, and other biometric indicators enables early detection of concerning trends. Alerts are generated when the system identifies negative health indicators that may need veterinary evaluation.
- Whelping Time Alerts Stage: Using patterns learned from the monitored data, the module issues notifications predicting a likely whelping window—ranging from approximately 10 days down to 12 hours before labor—so owners and clinicians can prepare and respond promptly.
During clinical validation, the technology was tested across a sample of pregnant dogs to confirm the reliability of its alerts and predictive capabilities. While wearable monitoring does not replace veterinary examination and diagnostic imaging when clinically required, it provides an additional layer of continuous observation that can highlight subtle changes between scheduled visits.
The Pregnancy Monitoring Module and associated study findings were presented at the 25th European Veterinary Society for Small Animal Reproduction (EVSSAR) Meeting in Barcelona, Spain, where the research was showcased in a poster presentation and accompanied by an oral presentation from PetPace co-founder Asaf Dagan during the final week of June 2024. The public presentation offered attendees an opportunity to review the development process, clinical testing approach, and potential applications for breeders, researchers, and practicing veterinarians.
By integrating wearable sensors with AI-driven analysis, the module is positioned to help pet owners and veterinary teams anticipate complications, reduce stress for both animals and caregivers, and enhance perinatal care through continuous, noninvasive monitoring.
References
1. PetPace launches AI-powered Pregnancy Monitoring Module at EVSSAR in Barcelona to enhance pet health data services. News release. PetPace. June 27, 2024. Accessed July 3, 2024.
2. Weir M. Breeding for pet owners – Pregnancy in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals. Accessed July 3, 2024.