Earth of Pet

Safe Zone: Mobile Safety App with Instant Emergency Alerts

Every pet owner knows that heart-stopping moment — you glance up and your dog has vanished from the yard, or your cat slips out a door. What happens in the following minutes can make all the difference between a quick reunion and a frantic search.

That’s why PetPace introduced Safe Zone, a geofencing feature built to give you immediate awareness the moment your pet leaves the area you’ve defined and to automatically switch your collar into active tracking so you can locate them fast.

What is Safe Zone?

Safe Zone lets you draw a virtual boundary — a yard, a block, or any safe area you choose — directly inside the PetPace app. Once enabled, your collar monitors your pet’s position quietly in the background so you don’t need to keep checking your phone. As long as your pet stays inside the defined area, everything runs as normal. If they step outside the boundary, Safe Zone immediately alerts you and takes action to help you find them.

What Happens When Your Pet Leaves the Zone

If your pet crosses the Safe Zone boundary, two things happen right away:

Immediate notification. You receive an instant alert from the PetPace app so you know the moment your pet wanders off. This gives you the crucial early awareness to act quickly.
Automatic search mode. The collar switches to Find My Pet mode and focuses on real-time location tracking. To prioritize locating your pet, the collar temporarily pauses routine health data collection while actively reporting location information.

When your pet returns inside the Safe Zone, the collar seamlessly switches back to normal operation and resumes health monitoring where it left off — no manual resetting required. This automatic cycle keeps the experience simple and dependable during a stressful moment.

Smart Enough to Think About Battery, Too

Safe Zone is designed to protect your pet while also conserving collar battery life. If your pet leaves the Safe Zone and the collar battery is below 20%, you will still receive an immediate notification, but Find My Pet mode will not activate automatically. Continuous, high-frequency location tracking draws more power, so at low battery levels the system avoids depleting the device when you still need it to work.

If you prefer to prioritize finding your pet over preserving battery, you can manually enable Find My Pet mode through the app at any time. This gives you the final control while keeping sensible defaults in place to maximize the collar’s uptime.

How to Turn On Safe Zone

Getting started is simple: open the PetPace app, go to Settings, then Beta Programs (if applicable), and enable Safe Zone for your pet. From there you can define the safe boundary on the map, customize notification preferences, and choose how the collar behaves when your pet exits the area.

Settings > Beta programs > Safe zone

Once configured, Safe Zone runs quietly in the background — monitoring location, sending alerts, and switching modes automatically when needed — so you can go about your day with the reassurance that you’ll be notified immediately if your pet wanders off.

Safe Zone is one more way PetPace helps keep pets safer and gives owners greater peace of mind through intelligent geofencing, instant alerts, and automatic tracking behavior designed around real-world needs.

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Pet Telemedicine Surges: Real-Time Data Empowers Vets

PetPace Smart collar closes the critical information gap in telemedicine veterinary care

BURLINGTON, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–When pet owners and veterinarians connect by video, the vet can see the animal but can’t reliably assess crucial physiological signals — heart rate, respiration, subtle signs of pain, or other indicators that often reveal serious problems. Those limitations are shifting as wearable monitoring technologies become practical for everyday veterinary use.

“The clinical value of this technology when integrated with telemedicine cannot be underestimated with immediate access to objective data for pre, post-surgical procedures, disease management, drug monitoring, early detection of pain, stress and much more”

PetPace, maker of an AI/ML-powered health monitoring collar that has earned industry recognition, is positioning its device as a foundational layer for veterinary telemedicine. The collar continuously collects real-time vitals and behavioral data, giving veterinarians objective measurements to use during remote consultations instead of relying solely on owner descriptions and video images.

The timing matters. The veterinary telemedicine market is expanding rapidly, and most remote consultations today still depend on what owners can describe and what can be seen on a screen. A smart collar that delivers continuous biometric data — heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature proxies, activity and clinically relevant pain indicators — turns a visual check-in into a genuine clinical encounter, improving assessment, triage and follow-up care.

“PetPace is the only health monitoring collar that can truly support remote patient assessment,” said Dr. Asaf Dagan, DVM, Co‑Founder of PetPace. “During a telemedicine visit, a veterinarian can access the same quality of physiological data they would collect in an exam room — heart rate, respiration, temperature, activity and pain indicators — in real time. Our platform also enables clinics to offer branded telemedicine services integrated into the app, with secure data handling and clinical workflows that align with practice needs.”

Integrating continuous biometric data into virtual care brings clear clinical advantages. Telemedicine has proven effective for triaging common conditions such as dermatological issues, vomiting, pain, and behavioral concerns. Research and clinical experience also show that clients who use telemedicine are more likely to follow up with in-person visits and often engage more deeply in recommended care. When those virtual interactions are supported by objective, continuous data, veterinarians can make better-informed decisions about diagnostic priorities, medication adjustments, and whether an urgent in‑person assessment is needed.

Beyond immediate triage, wearables support a broader shift in veterinary medicine from primarily reactive, episodic treatment toward more proactive and preventive care. Monitoring patterns of activity, sleep, and physiologic trends can reveal early signs of chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis or detect post-surgical complications long before an emergency arises. This enables timely interventions that improve outcomes and can reduce overall care costs.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are tools that augment clinical judgment, not replace it. By applying AI/ML to continuous data streams, the technology helps surface meaningful patterns and alerts, allowing veterinarians to focus on interpretation and care planning. Practices that combine telemedicine with real-time biometric monitoring are positioned to deliver a higher standard of remote care, improve client engagement, and expand the types of cases that can be managed effectively without immediate clinic visits.

Data privacy, security and clinical integration are central to adoption. PetPace emphasizes secure data transmission and storage, clinician-facing dashboards, and options for practices to offer their own branded telemedicine services within the platform. These features support workflows familiar to veterinarians and help ensure that biometric data contributes usefully to patient records and care decisions.

As wearables and telemedicine become more intertwined, the potential benefits include earlier detection of disease, better chronic disease management, enhanced post-operative monitoring, and more precise drug monitoring. For pet owners, that translates to timelier care and greater peace of mind. For veterinarians, it means access to reliable, objective data when assessing patients remotely — closing the information gap that has long limited the effectiveness of virtual veterinary care.

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Is Your Cat Bored With Food? How to Add Gourmet Variety

Yesterday your cat rushed to the bowl at dinner. Today they sniff it as if it were cardboard. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many cat owners assume they have a picky eater, but often there’s more to the story. Cats commonly lose interest in eating the same meal day after day—not out of stubbornness, but because their instincts favor variety and richer sensory experiences at mealtime.

Put yourself in your cat’s paws: imagine being served the same chicken dish every day for months. Even a tasty, nutritious meal would start to feel monotonous. Cats are no different. Their feeding choices depend on far more than just ingredients; aroma, texture, temperature and moisture all shape a cat’s appetite.

Animal behaviorists sometimes call this behavioral menu fatigue—a gradual drop in enthusiasm when every meal looks, smells and feels the same. While not a medical diagnosis, this idea helps explain why a once-eager cat may become indifferent at mealtime. Veterinary behaviorists increasingly view feeding as an opportunity for enrichment, not only nutrition. A thoughtfully varied approach can support natural feline behaviors and promote healthier eating habits.

Cats thrive on routine, but routine doesn’t have to mean monotony. Wild ancestors encountered a range of prey textures, aromas and flavors throughout the day. Today’s indoor cats may no longer hunt, but many still benefit from that sensory variety in their diet.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, approximately 60% of U.S. pet cats are overweight or obese. While multiple factors contribute to that statistic, making mealtime more engaging can help encourage consistent, healthy feeding behavior.

Can Cats Really Get Bored with Their Food?

Cats don’t seek novelty the way humans do; they often approach new foods cautiously, a behavior known as food neophobia that historically protected them from harmful substances. At the same time, cats experience sensory-specific satiety—after repeated exposure to the same aroma, flavor or texture, their interest in that food can decline even if they remain hungry.

That explains why a cat might enthusiastically finish a bowl one day and ignore the same meal the next. It isn’t always pickiness; often the cat is ready for a different sensory experience. Because cats rely heavily on smell, even subtle changes in aroma or texture can make a meal feel fresh again.

Why Wet Food Naturally Adds Variety

One of the simplest ways to add interest is to include wet food in your cat’s routine. Compared with dry kibble, wet recipes offer a wider array of textures and aromas—pâtés, tender morsels, flakes and shredded meats in sauces—that can make every meal more enticing.

Wet food also supports hydration. Cats evolved from desert-dwelling ancestors and often have a low thirst drive, so many obtain a significant portion of their daily water from food. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the International Society of Feline Medicine note that feeding high-moisture wet food can help cats that don’t drink enough water on their own.

That doesn’t mean every cat needs only wet food. Many veterinarians recommend a combination of wet and dry diets, which provides the benefits of both while increasing sensory variety at mealtime. For cats that do well on wet diets, choosing carefully formulated recipes with high-quality ingredients and complete, balanced nutrition ensures each meal supports long-term wellbeing.

Veterinary behaviorists emphasize that mealtime is also enrichment. Rotating flavors, textures and serving formats helps indoor cats engage instincts like stalking and exploring, turning feeding into a sensory experience rather than just calorie intake.

Gourmet Variety Means More Than New Flavors

When owners think of variety they often focus on different proteins, but cats notice much more than flavor. Texture plays a major role in acceptance. Some cats prefer smooth pâtés that melt on the tongue, while others favor minced, shredded or flaked formats in broths or sauces.

If your cat turns away from dinner, experimenting with texture can be as important as trying a new protein. Introducing complementary textures alongside different flavors can keep mealtime interesting while maintaining balanced nutrition.

Think of it as crafting a small gourmet tasting menu for your cat: rotating formats and textures can renew interest without upsetting digestive consistency.

Create a Simple Rotation

The aim isn’t to spoil your cat but to engage instincts that have remained for thousands of years. Breakfast doesn’t need to match dinner, and Tuesday can differ from Friday. Here’s a simple weekly rotation you can adapt to suit your cat’s preferences:

Monday	Tiny Tasters Tuna
Tuesday	Signature Selects Shredded Seafood
Wednesday	Complete Health Grilled Favorites
Thursday	Purrfect Duos (Beef & Chicken)
Friday	Tiny Tasters Salmon

Start small: if your cat already likes certain recipes, rotate just one meal a day rather than changing everything at once. The goal is enough variety to keep mealtime exciting while maintaining digestive and nutritional consistency.

Gourmet Variety Can Encourage Healthy Eating

Adding thoughtful variety can encourage cats to eat regularly. Cats that remain interested in their food are less likely to skip meals—a critical point because prolonged food refusal can lead to serious health issues. The Cornell Feline Health Center warns that extended periods without eating are especially risky for overweight cats, who can be prone to hepatic lipidosis.

Rotating premium, complete recipes introduces new aromas, proteins and textures while maintaining balanced nutrition. Single-serve portions can reduce waste, and a planned rotation helps sustain interest without compromising dietary needs.

Variety at Every Life Stage

Kittens benefit from early exposure to different flavors and textures, which helps them become adaptable eaters. If you feed kitten formulas, including varied wet formats alongside a primary diet can build positive habits early on.

Senior cats may become more selective as their senses or dental health change. Softer, flavorful wet foods can maintain appetite and provide the additional moisture many older cats need. Thoughtful variety supports healthy eating habits across life stages, from playful kittens to senior companions.

Choosing High-Quality Wet Cat Food

With many options available, choose recipes that deliver complete and balanced nutrition, high-quality protein, appealing textures, and hydration. Look for foods formulated with sound nutritional science that meet your cat’s life stage and health needs.

Create Mealtimes Your Cat Looks Forward To

Every meal is an opportunity to nourish more than your cat’s body. It’s a chance to stimulate instincts, satisfy curiosity, and turn a routine into one of the day’s most rewarding moments. By rotating textures, flavors and formats, you can make mealtime engaging and healthful—encouraging consistent eating, better hydration and a happier cat.

If you’re exploring new options, consider balanced wet recipes in different textures, introduce variety gradually, and monitor your cat’s response. Thoughtful changes can revive interest in food, support healthy habits and make every bowl worth purring about.

Discover creative serving and rotation ideas to keep meals interesting
Learn how texture influences acceptance and can solve picky-eating challenges
Find feeding tips to tempt fussy felines and support healthy hydration

The post Is Your Cat Bored With Food? How to Add Gourmet Variety first appeared on Earth of Pet.

Early Signs of Hyperthyroidism in Asymptomatic Cats

Patient Condition and History

Mya is a 14-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat, weighing 13 lb, who lives exclusively indoors and had no previously known medical issues. Her owner, Carol Pipher, a veterinary technician at Southern Tier Veterinary Associates in Vestal, NY, fitted Mya with a PetPace collar as part of routine health screening and monitoring at home. Because Carol works in veterinary medicine, she was attentive to the collar’s reports and to changes in Mya’s baseline measurements.

Monitoring Data and Medical Exam

The PetPace collar recorded heart and activity data that prompted concern: Mya’s average pulse was markedly elevated at 182 beats per minute, with a recorded maximum of 231 and a minimum of 130. The collar also showed a low heart rate variability (VVTI of 8.2), a non-specific indicator that can reflect physiologic stress or illness. Based on these abnormal trend data, Carol brought Mya to the clinic for a veterinary evaluation.

On physical examination Mya appeared clinically unremarkable, but routine bloodwork revealed a significantly elevated thyroid hormone (T4 of 12.4 µg/dL; reference range 0.8–4.7 µg/dL) and a mildly high red blood cell count (RBC 11.6 million/µL; reference range 7.12–11.4 million/µL). These laboratory findings are commonly associated with feline hyperthyroidism and supported the need for treatment, even in the absence of obvious clinical signs at that time.

Mya was started on oral medication to control her excess thyroid hormone. The treatment effectively reduced her T4 levels and produced measurable changes in the physiologic data recorded by the collar. A 24-hour follow-up monitoring session three months after the start of therapy showed substantial improvement: average pulse values fell by roughly 20% (average 141; max 208; min 103) and heart rate variability improved by about 13% (VVTI 9.3), consistent with clinical response to treatment and stabilization of her metabolic state.

ELEVATED PULSE INDEXES IN A CAT WITH OCCULT HYPERTHYROIDISM.

SIGNIFICANT DECREASES IN PULSE INDEXES FOLLOWING MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR HYPERTHYROIDISM.

Discussion

Hyperthyroidism in cats is caused by excessive production of thyroid hormones from the thyroid glands and is one of the most common endocrine disorders in older felines. Thyroid hormones influence metabolism and many organ systems, so the disease can affect appetite, weight, cardiovascular function, behavior and more. Clinical signs may be subtle at first and often develop gradually, which means cases can remain undetected until the disease is well advanced. Left untreated, hyperthyroidism can lead to significant health consequences, including persistent weight loss, cardiac changes and potential secondary organ damage.

This case illustrates how objective, continuous monitoring can detect physiologic trends that alert owners and veterinarians to a developing problem before severe clinical signs appear. In Mya’s situation, the collar identified elevated heart rates and low heart rate variability—findings that justified further diagnostic testing. Laboratory confirmation then allowed timely initiation of medical therapy that reduced thyroid hormone levels and improved cardiovascular parameters, as documented by both blood tests and subsequent collar data.

The value of early detection in chronic, slowly progressive diseases cannot be overstated. Owners may miss subtle day-to-day changes in an aging pet, and even attentive caregivers can overlook early indicators that are visible only through continuous or trend-based monitoring. Devices that aggregate and analyze physiological measurements over time can expose non-specific deviations from baseline—changes that warrant veterinary follow-up and targeted diagnostics.

Conclusions

The PetPace collar can provide early, actionable indications of changing health in individual pets by tracking trends in heart rate, heart rate variability and activity. In this case, data from the collar led to a veterinary examination, laboratory testing, a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism and prompt initiation of treatment, all before advanced complications developed. The collar also documented objective improvement after therapy, demonstrating its usefulness for both screening and monitoring response to treatment.

Many chronic conditions in cats progress insidiously, and symptoms are often noticed late in the disease course. Incorporating non-invasive trend monitoring into routine care can help veterinarians and owners detect problems earlier, prioritize diagnostic work-ups and intervene sooner, which can improve outcomes and reduce the risk of irreversible organ damage.

Dr. Cari Bowlin, Medical Director at Southern Tier Veterinary Associates, observed that collar-generated data prompted a thorough examination of a cat that initially appeared healthy, enabling a timely diagnosis and reinforcing clinician confidence in the technology. Dr. Asaf Dagan, PetPace’s Chief Veterinarian and a board-certified clinician, noted that routine screening using such monitoring tools could be integrated into annual wellness plans to improve early detection of chronic illnesses and ultimately enhance pet health and longevity.

The post Early Signs of Hyperthyroidism in Asymptomatic Cats first appeared on Earth of Pet.

Biometric Study Shows Pet Acoustics Music Calms Cats

NEW YORK, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — More than 95 million cats live in U.S. households, and many experience behavioral stress driven in part by their exceptional sensitivity to sound. Cats hear across a much broader range than humans—reported to span roughly 40 Hz to 85,000 Hz—so everyday noises can be perceived as intense or disturbing. To help reduce stress in cats through targeted auditory intervention, Janet Marlow, Sound Behaviorist and founder of Pet Acoustics, developed science-based music specifically engineered for the feline auditory system. Pet Acoustics’ feline music has been used since 1997 and is designed to support calmer behavior by addressing the frequencies and patterns most relevant to cats.

Pet Acoustics Biometric Study Chart

Pet Acoustics Inc., an award-winning leader in species-specific animal music, launched a clinical study to evaluate whether its feline music produces measurable physiological and behavioral changes in cats. The three-month study monitored biometric markers and activity patterns to determine whether exposure to Pet Acoustics’ feline music would correspond with signs of reduced stress and greater physiological calm.

The study protocol included alternating periods with no music and periods during which the Pet Acoustics feline calming music was played. Each cat’s vital signs and behavior were recorded continuously, with key measures including pulse rate, overall activity levels and heart rate variability (HRV). HRV is an important indicator of autonomic nervous system balance: higher HRV is generally associated with a more relaxed state, while lower HRV corresponds with increased sympathetic (fight-or-flight) activation.

Data collection relied on a wearable monitoring solution. Each cat was fitted with a smart collar that measured pulse, activity and other physiological signals and transmitted them in real time to a cloud-based analysis engine. The feline music was played from a portable Pet Acoustics Pet Tunes speaker during the music periods, while no music was played during control periods. Study personnel then compared biometric and behavioral data between the no-music and music conditions.

After three months of monitoring, the study found consistent changes in the cats’ physiological and behavioral measures when the Pet Acoustics feline music was played. Across the studied group, average pulse and measured activity levels were lower during music exposure, while heart rate variability increased. These findings align with the hypothesis that the species-specific music produces a calming effect. In particular, the rise in HRV was a notable indicator of a shift toward a more relaxed autonomic state.

The analysis also included stress scoring derived from biometric and behavioral patterns. Stress scores were significantly lower when the cats listened to the music compared with the no-music condition. Importantly, the calming response was broadly consistent across the study population: the researchers reported no meaningful differences in response related to sex, age, breed, neuter status or whether cats were primarily indoor or outdoor. In other words, cats from diverse backgrounds and life situations showed positive responses to the music.

The practical implications of these results are relevant for everyday pet care. Pet Acoustics’ feline music may help reduce anxiety during common stressors such as introducing a newly adopted cat into a household, managing behavioral responses during veterinary visits, decreasing flight or hiding behavior during storms or fireworks, supporting post-operative recovery with lower physiological stress, and easing anxiety associated with crate travel. While individual animals may vary, the study indicates that species-specific auditory enrichment can be a useful non-pharmacological tool to support feline well-being.

Pet owners and professionals interested in learning more about the methods or the data from the Pet Acoustics study can request additional information via email: hello@petacoustics.com.

Media Contact:
Janet Marlow
306231@email4pr.com
+860.459.8000
PetAcoustics.com
P.O. Box 26 Washington Depot, CT 06794

SOURCE Pet Acoustics

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PetPace Collar Study Lighting Changes Cut Stress in Shelter Cats

Lighting Changes Reduce Stress in Shelter Cats, MSU Study Finds

BURLINGTON, Mass. — A peer-reviewed study from Michigan State University demonstrates that simple changes in indoor lighting can significantly reduce stress in cats housed in animal shelters. Published in the June issue of iScience, the study—titled “Light quality and time in shelter modulate behavior and cortisol in the domestic cat (Felis catus)”—also highlights the value of continuous, objective monitoring using the PetPace smart collar.

The research, conducted by teams in the laboratories of Drs. Hanne Hoffmann and Jackie Jacobs and funded by the MSU Department of Animal Science, followed 101 cats during the first five days after intake into a shelter environment. Investigators compared three lighting conditions: standard bright lighting, dim lighting, and dim blue-depleted “sunset-like” lighting. Researchers measured both physiological stress markers and observable behaviors to assess how light quality affected adaptation to the shelter.

Key findings show that cats exposed to dim, blue-depleted lighting experienced a notable decline in urinary cortisol—a primary stress hormone—by day five compared with cats under standard lighting. Behavioral indicators of stress, including validated cat stress scores and periods of inactivity, decreased across all groups over time as animals acclimated, but the greatest physiological improvement was linked to the blue-depleted, lower-intensity lighting.

Central to the study’s data collection was the PetPace smart collar, a clinically validated device designed specifically for pets. The collar provided continuous, non-invasive monitoring of locomotor activity, movement intensity, and circadian patterns without disturbing the animals. Worn by cats as they entered the study, the collars recorded high-resolution, around-the-clock activity data that revealed consistent activity peaks at “lights on” across all lighting conditions and enabled precise detection of daily rhythms.

“The PetPace collar was an essential tool in our study,” said Dr. Alexandra Yaw, lead researcher. “Continuous, high-resolution data let us detect clear circadian patterns and correlate behavioral changes with physiological measures. Because the collars operate hands-off, our undergraduate researchers could collect reliable, 24/7 data with minimal disruption, producing insights that spot-check methods could not capture.”

The combination of continuous activity tracking, urinary cortisol assays, and behavioral observations allowed researchers to draw robust conclusions about how light quality influences both physiology and real-world behavior in a shelter setting. By pairing objective physiological data with validated stress scoring and movement patterns, the team could more confidently identify interventions that reduce stress in newly arrived shelter cats.

Unlike consumer wearables that focus mainly on GPS or basic fitness metrics, the PetPace collar is purpose-built for clinical-grade data collection. Its continuous monitoring and cloud-based analytics make it particularly suited for research, veterinary care, and animal welfare initiatives where precise, ethical monitoring in real-world environments is required.

Dr. Asaf Dagan, cofounder and Chief Veterinary Officer of PetPace, commented: “We’re pleased to see PetPace technology support high-impact, welfare-focused research. Objective, real-time insights into stress and behavior enable evidence-based improvements in shelter environments and veterinary practice.”

By enabling low-burden, ethical monitoring, the PetPace system helps shelters and researchers detect subtle changes earlier, supporting timely and welfare-centered decisions. This study reinforces the collar’s role as a practical tool for generating quantifiable evidence that can guide improvements in housing, husbandry, and lighting design for shelter cats.

For more information about PetPace and its research applications, visit the PetPace researchers page on the company website.

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PetPace V3.0 Smart Cat Collar: Live Tracking and Monitoring

PetPace V3.0 is the world’s first smart health monitoring collar created specifically for cats. Developed with input from veterinarians and powered by AI, it continuously tracks vital signs, activity, and stress-related indicators in real time. Designed for home use, the system delivers clear, actionable health insights to cat owners and their veterinarians, helping to recognize subtle changes early—often before visible symptoms appear.

Why Do Cats Need a Special Smart Collar?

Most smart collars on the market are designed for dogs and simply scaled down for smaller pets. That approach can miss important feline-specific signals. Cats naturally conceal pain and illness, and by the time behavior changes or obvious signs appear, conditions may already be advanced. PetPace V3.0 addresses these challenges by focusing on the unique physiology and daily patterns of cats. Key considerations include:

Faster heart rates and smaller bodies: Sensors and algorithms are tuned for the higher resting heart rates and compact anatomy common to cats.
Distinct sleep and activity rhythms: Cats have different rest and activity cycles than dogs and humans; monitoring interprets those patterns to spot deviations sooner.

What Health Data Does PetPace V3.0 Track?

PetPace V3.0 provides a medical-grade view of feline well-being by continuously monitoring multiple health metrics. Rather than offering only step counts, it compiles a comprehensive set of measurements to form a holistic portrait of your cat’s condition:

Vital signs: Continuous monitoring of temperature, pulse, respiration, and heart rate variability gives an immediate picture of physiological state.
Activity and sleep: Tracking changes in energy levels, movement patterns, and rest helps detect subtle shifts that can indicate early illness or discomfort.
GPS tracking: Location tools help you know where your cat is, useful for indoor/outdoor pets and multi-level homes.

What Are the New Features in V3.0?

PetPace V3.0 expands the platform’s capabilities to support both pet owners and veterinary professionals. The update introduces practical features designed for faster response and better collaboration between home and clinic:

24/7 AskaVet telemedicine: Access licensed veterinarians via chat or video whenever you need professional guidance about your cat’s health.
Direct vet data sharing: Share real-time health data instantly with your veterinarian to support informed assessments and treatment decisions.
Remote clinic access: Veterinarians can monitor multiple feline patients through a dedicated web interface, enabling ongoing remote observation where appropriate.
Expanded alerts and insights: Receive immediate notifications when significant changes are detected, so you can act quickly and discuss findings with your vet.
Apple Watch compatibility: View key health statistics directly from your wrist for convenient, at-a-glance updates.
Epilepsy program (Beta): A focused program to capture critical clinical data during seizure events, helping owners and veterinarians document episodes and trends.

How This Helps Cat Owners and Vets

PetPace V3.0 is built to turn continuous monitoring into practical care. For cat owners, it offers peace of mind by highlighting meaningful trends and alerting you to changes that merit attention. For veterinarians, access to reliable, longitudinal data from the home environment provides context that routine clinic visits often miss. When cats show subtle deviations in vital signs or activity, early detection can lead to earlier diagnostics, treatment, and better outcomes.

Practical Uses and Tips

Use PetPace V3.0 to monitor new or ongoing health concerns, follow recovery after procedures, or keep an eye on senior cats and those with chronic conditions. In multi-cat households, individualized monitoring helps distinguish which animal may be experiencing issues. To get the most value, pair the collar’s alerts and reports with regular communications with your veterinarian, who can interpret trends alongside physical exams and lab work.

Get Peace of Mind

Your cat can’t tell you when something’s wrong, but PetPace V3.0 helps you recognize the signs before they become serious. More than a tracker, it’s a practical health tool that bridges home observation with veterinary care—delivering timely information that supports better decision-making and greater confidence in managing your cat’s health.

Learn more about PetPace V3.0 for cats

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PetPace Probes Calorie Burn as Cause of Cat Weight Loss

Patient Condition and History

To determine whether Dottie’s weight loss resulted from burning more calories than she consumed, the hospital fitted her with a PetPace smart collar to accurately measure activity levels and estimate caloric expenditure.

Dottie is a five-year-old, spayed female Boston Terrier weighing roughly 16 lb. While boarding at VetCare Harris Animal Hospital in Tampa, Florida, caregivers observed gradual weight loss despite her appearing healthy and maintaining a normal appetite.

Monitoring Data

When Dottie was admitted for boarding her recorded weight was 16.2 lb. Within a week her weight dropped to 14.1 lb. She had no known medical issues, ate well twice daily and displayed high energy with frequent bursts of activity.

The PetPace collar recorded Dottie’s behavior continuously, revealing frequent, intense activity even during nighttime hours when the facility was closed. This night-time activity would have been impossible to quantify without continuous monitoring, and the data helped clarify the likely cause of her weight loss.

The collar tracked not only how long Dottie was active, but also the intensity of that activity. The accumulated activity breakdown shows the relative time she spent at different intensity levels, confirming extended periods of high-energy behavior.

PetPace also provided an Overall Activity Score, a proprietary metric that combines intensity, frequency and duration of activity to allow easy comparisons over time and between pets. Dottie’s score during boarding was 17.2, one of the highest recorded by PetPace, while typical healthy active dogs score around 11. This unusually high score aligned with the observed weight loss and suggested elevated caloric needs.

Other physiologic measures captured by the collar—such as pulse indices, respiratory rate indices and heart rate variability (HRV)—remained stable and within normal ranges throughout the monitoring period. Sample trend graphs demonstrate consistent values despite Dottie’s hyperactive behavior.

One experimental parameter captured was the VVTI (Vaso-Vagal Tonus Index) versus pulse plot, which can act as a complementary marker of autonomic balance and wellbeing. Dottie’s VVTI distribution was within expected ranges, supporting the interpretation that she was otherwise healthy.

The device also estimated caloric expenditure using the pet’s signalment (age, weight, neuter status) combined with the recorded activity. The caloric estimate for Dottie during her stay indicated much higher energy usage than a typical dog of her size at rest.

Armed with these objective data, hospital staff increased Dottie’s food ration and she began to regain weight.

Discussion

Body weight in dogs is closely tied to activity patterns. Quantifying activity—measuring intensity, duration, frequency and consistency—provides actionable information for owners and veterinary teams working to achieve weight goals or address unexpected weight changes.

Very active pets, such as working dogs or unusually playful companions, often require more calories to maintain body condition. Objective activity metrics combined with caloric expenditure estimates make it easier to determine appropriate feeding regimens and to communicate recommendations to caregivers.

Beyond weight management, continuous activity analytics contribute to a broader health assessment. A device that integrates activity data with physiological indicators—pulse, respiration, HRV and experimental indices like VVTI—offers a more complete picture of a pet’s condition than activity tracking alone. In Dottie’s case, normal physiologic parameters alongside extreme activity supported the conclusion that increased energy expenditure, not illness, drove her weight loss.

Conclusions

Detailed activity analysis is a valuable tool for managing the weight and overall health of dogs and cats. Interpreting activity data in the context of other physiologic markers and the animal’s medical history enables better clinical decisions and personalized feeding strategies.

Dr. Asaf Dagan, DVM, Diplomate ABVP and PetPace’s Chief Veterinarian, emphasized that objective activity analytics improve the accuracy and objectivity of weight-control programs and have broader clinical value when changes in behavior or weight may signal underlying medical issues. Dottie’s primary veterinarian, Dr. Brian Shaw of VetCare Harris Animal Hospital in Tampa, noted that PetPace collars give staff reliable, objective information to guide clinical decisions such as caloric intake adjustment.

In this case study of a Boston Terrier with unexplained weight loss while boarding, continuous monitoring revealed sustained high activity and elevated caloric needs. Adjusting the diet based on those insights resolved the weight loss, illustrating how activity tracking and integrated physiologic data can improve outcomes in veterinary care and pet wellness management.

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Mya’s Story: When a Cat’s Chronic Illness Goes Undetected

Many chronic diseases in cats develop gradually, unfolding over months or years before they become obvious. Because cats are expert at masking discomfort, even attentive owners can miss early warning signs. That was the case with Mya, a 14-year-old indoor domestic shorthair who appeared healthy on the surface but was quietly developing a serious condition.

Mya’s owner, a veterinary technician named Carol Pipher, used a continuous physiological monitoring collar as part of routine screening. While Mya’s behavior, appetite, and physical exam seemed normal, the collar recorded changes in her body that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Why Are Chronic Conditions So Hard to Detect in Cats?

Cats evolved to hide weakness and pain, which makes detecting chronic illness challenging. Many conditions progress slowly, causing subtle internal changes long before visible symptoms appear. Common chronic conditions in older cats include:

Hyperthyroidism
Chronic kidney disease
Heart disease
Hypertension
Arthritis
Diabetes

Because these diseases often develop quietly, by the time overt signs emerge the condition may already be advanced and more difficult to manage. That’s why long-term physiological trends and routine screening are so important, especially for senior cats.

Mya’s Story: The Hidden Signs No One Could See

Although Mya looked well on a regular visit, the monitoring collar revealed three key abnormalities: elevated average pulse, unusually high maximum pulse readings, and reduced heart rate variability (HRV). Those physiological signals prompted further veterinary testing.

On physical exam Mya appeared largely normal, and without the collar’s data there might have been no immediate cause for concern. However, bloodwork revealed significantly elevated thyroid hormone levels consistent with hyperthyroidism—a common endocrine disorder in older cats that can have wide-ranging effects if left untreated.

What Is Hyperthyroidism in Cats?

Hyperthyroidism results from an overactive thyroid gland producing excess thyroid hormones. These hormones regulate metabolism and influence many organ systems. When levels are too high, a cat can experience:

weight loss despite normal or increased appetite
increased cardiac workload and heart rate changes
elevated blood pressure
stress on internal organs
behavioral changes and restlessness

Because the disease often develops slowly, owners may miss early signs until complications—such as cardiac strain or high blood pressure—become evident. Early detection can prevent or reduce these risks.

Why Early Detection Matters in Chronic Diseases

Timing is crucial with chronic illness. Identifying a problem early increases the likelihood of effective management and reduces the chance of irreversible damage. In Mya’s case, abnormal physiological patterns led to blood testing and a timely diagnosis. She began oral medication to lower thyroid hormone levels and was monitored closely.

Three months after starting treatment, the monitoring data showed clear improvement: lower average and maximum pulse indexes, better heart rate variability, and overall healthier physiological trends. Detecting the disease before severe complications developed allowed Mya to respond well to therapy and avoid more serious outcomes.

Can Physiological Changes Appear Before Symptoms?

Yes. Many chronic conditions affect internal physiology before causing obvious behavioral or physical signs. Trends in pulse, HRV, respiration, activity levels, and sleep patterns can shift subtly and earlier than changes you might notice during play or feeding. This is particularly true for cats, which often conceal discomfort.

In Mya’s example, those physiological signals were the first indicators that something was wrong. Without continuous monitoring and subsequent diagnostic testing, her hyperthyroidism might not have been detected until the disease progressed further.

What Can Cat Owners Learn From Mya’s Story?

Mya’s experience underscores an important lesson: a cat can look healthy while significant internal changes are underway. To protect their pets’ long-term health, owners should prioritize regular veterinary check-ups, routine bloodwork for senior cats, and careful attention to subtle changes in behavior, activity, eating, or sleep.

Monitoring long-term physiological trends—whether through periodic exams, home observation, or validated monitoring tools—can reveal early warning signs before disease becomes advanced. Early detection gives veterinarians and owners more options for treatment and a better chance of preserving quality of life.

The post Mya’s Story: When a Cat’s Chronic Illness Goes Undetected first appeared on Earth of Pet.

Detect Feline Hyperthyroidism Early with PetPace

Smart IoT pet health-monitoring collar enables early detection and effective treatment of hyperthyroidism in an asymptomatic cat

Burlington, MA (PRWEB) April 21, 2016

Early detection through continuous remote monitoring

PetPace, a company offering an innovative Internet of Things (IoT) collar for continuous, real-time monitoring and analysis of pet vital signs and activity, has published a detailed medical case study demonstrating how its technology supported an early diagnosis of feline hyperthyroidism. The case documents how routine, remote monitoring identified concerning physiological trends in a cat that showed no outward clinical symptoms, prompting veterinary evaluation and timely intervention.

The case: an asymptomatic cat diagnosed early

Mya, a 14-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair weighing 13 lb and living exclusively indoors, had no previously known medical issues. Her owner, who works in pet healthcare, initiated routine screening with the PetPace collar. The collar recorded elevated heart rate values (average pulse 182 bpm; maximum 231 bpm; minimum 130 bpm) alongside a low heart rate variability measurement (VVTI 8.2). These abnormal readings triggered further investigation by a veterinarian.

Subsequent veterinary examination and bloodwork confirmed the presence of hyperthyroidism. Laboratory results showed a markedly elevated thyroid hormone level (T4 = 12.4 µg/dL; reference range 0.8–4.7 µg/dL) and a slightly elevated red blood cell count (RBC = 11.6 million/µL; reference range 7.12–11.4 million/µL). No other clinical abnormalities were found during the exam; Mya remained asymptomatic in every observable way.

Understanding feline hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism in cats is a common endocrine disorder in older animals caused by excessive production of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland in the neck. Because thyroid hormones regulate metabolism and influence many physiological systems, the disease can affect nearly any organ, producing a wide range of clinical signs. Typical symptoms—such as weight loss, increased appetite, restlessness, vomiting, or cardiac changes—may develop gradually, and by the time visible signs appear the disease can already have caused significant internal changes.

Early detection is therefore crucial. Identifying subtle physiological shifts before clinical signs emerge enables veterinarians to begin treatment earlier, potentially reducing the risk of long-term organ damage and improving overall outcomes.

Treatment and follow-up

Following diagnosis, Mya was placed on an appropriate course of oral medication to manage excess thyroid hormone production. Three months after starting treatment, a continuous 24-hour assessment with the PetPace collar revealed significant improvements across monitored parameters, indicating that medical management effectively reduced thyroid hormone levels and stabilized cardiovascular indicators.

How continuous monitoring improves pet care

The Mya case illustrates the value of continuous, noninvasive monitoring in detecting early deviations from an individual pet’s normal physiological patterns. By providing trend data and analytics, the smart collar can reveal non-specific but clinically relevant changes that might otherwise go unnoticed until overt symptoms develop. These early alerts allow pet owners to seek veterinary assessment sooner, enabling timely diagnostic testing and intervention.

Comments from veterinary professionals

Dr. Cari Bowlin, Medical Director at Southern Tier Veterinary Associates, commented on the experience: “The data provided by the PetPace collar was what prompted us to thoroughly examine a presumably healthy cat. It enabled a timely diagnosis of a serious disease and turned my staff into believers in this innovative technology.”

Dr. Asaf Dagan, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Canine and Feline practice) and PetPace’s Chief Veterinarian, added: “The PetPace collar enables clinics to run routine periodic screening of their clients, for example as part of an annual work-up. This can be invaluable in early detection of chronic diseases and – as exemplified in this case – can dramatically improve pet health.”

Conclusion

This documented case demonstrates how IoT-enabled pet health monitoring can contribute to earlier detection of chronic conditions such as feline hyperthyroidism, even when an animal appears clinically normal. Continuous tracking of heart rate, activity levels, and heart rate variability can alert owners and veterinarians to subtle, meaningful changes, supporting prompt diagnosis and improving the chances for successful medical management. For veterinarians and proactive pet owners, integrating remote monitoring into routine preventive care offers a powerful tool for safeguarding long-term health.

Source: WAFB

The post Detect Feline Hyperthyroidism Early with PetPace first appeared on Earth of Pet.