Collar that tells you how your dog is feeling

They are the hi-tech gadgets used by gym enthusiasts, athletes and those simply wishing to keep a closer eye on their health.  Now anxious pet owners will be able to buy a monitor to keep constant track of the pulse rate of their dogs and cats – and even the number of calories they burn.

The “smart collar”, which will be launched in Britain next year, joins a growing catalogue of niche items which have traditionally been the preserve of human beings but are now being created for pets.  The collar will, for the first time, allow cats and dogs to “tell” their owners how they feel, say manufacturers. It will allow owners to build a “personalised health profile” of their pets and will even enable comparisons with similar cats and dogs.   Vets have welcomed the innovation, saying it could help to diagnose and manage illnesses.

Miniature sensors built into the collar automatically monitor the temperature, pulse and breathing rate of pets, as well as their activity patterns and calories burned.  PetPace, the firm behind the monitor, says it will also help to detect whether a pet is in pain by assessing physiological and behavioural signs. Software built into the collar analyses the information in the context of a pet’s history and criteria specific to its breed.  Pet owners can set up text message and email notifications alerting them and their vet to any “abnormalities” or “suspicious trends”.

Dr Asaf Dagan, chief veterinary scientist at PetPace, said: “This collar will enable pets, for the first time, to 'tell’ us how they feel”.  The monitor has been launched in the US following three years of research and development, at a sale price of $150 (£88), in addition to a monthly service charge. It will go on sale in the UK next year.

Robin Hargreaves, president of the British Veterinary Association, told the Veterinary Times: “This kind of monitoring system could be very helpful in the diagnosis and management of disease. However, as with any type of diagnostic test monitoring the health of an animal, the interpretation of the results should be made by a veterinary surgeon, taking into account the clinical history of the animal as well as a physical examination by the vet.”

The monitor is the latest in a series of unusual items developed for pets having been modelled on human equivalents.

One British company has started making a range of herbal teas for dogs, and Barbour, the clothing firm, produces a canine version of its quilted jacket.