Pet Health Monitors: Are They the Future of Vet Care?

Contact us to report infringement

By Theo Grant | Pet Innovations Column | The Pet Standard

As pet owners, we do our best to keep our companions healthy whether it's regular vet visits, high-quality food, or daily walks. But what if we could take pet healthcare one step further?

What if we could detect a problem before it becomes obvious? Enter: pet health monitors a growing innovation that’s quietly reshaping how we care for our animals.

From smart collars that track vital signs to wearables that alert you to behavioural changes, pet health monitors are no longer a futuristic fantasy. But are they actually effective? And more importantly, could they really be the future of vet care?

Let’s explore what’s on offer, how they work, and what you can expect to pay in the UK.

What Are Pet Health Monitors?

Pet health monitors are smart devices often collars, trackers, or attachable sensors that measure various aspects of your pet's wellbeing.

Depending on the model, they can track:

• Heart rate and respiratory rate

• Sleep patterns

• Activity levels and calories burned

• Temperature

• Location (GPS)

• Licking, scratching, or shaking behaviour

• Posture and mobility

The data is usually transmitted to a mobile app, giving owners a real-time view of their pet's health trends. Some models are even linked to veterinary dashboards, offering vets a continuous stream of data between check-ups.

Why Are These Devices Gaining Popularity?

Much like smartwatches in humans, pet health monitors offer early insight into changes that might otherwise go unnoticed. For example, a drop in activity or changes in sleep could point to pain, arthritis, illness, or even anxiety.

In fact, according to recent veterinary studies, over 40% of chronic conditions in pets are detected too late. These devices aim to change that, giving owners and vets the tools to act sooner and smarter.

The Most Popular Pet Health Monitors (UK Edition)

1. FitBark GPS Dog Tracker 2nd Gen

Price: Around £95 + subscription (approx. £6/month)

Best for: Tracking activity, sleep, and behaviour in dogs

FitBark is a lightweight, waterproof tracker that attaches to your dog’s collar. It monitors mobility, sleep quality, and even calories burned. Its GPS function is helpful for dogs who enjoy off-lead adventures.

You can also share health data with your vet, making it easier to monitor long-term conditions such as arthritis or recovery from surgery.

2. Sure Petcare Animo Activity & Behaviour Monitor

Price: Around £70

Best for: Monitoring subtle behaviour changes in dogs

Animo tracks barking, scratching, and shaking, which can signal skin problems, anxiety, or ear infections. It also provides daily activity goals, and the 6-month battery life means you don’t need to recharge often.

Though it lacks GPS, it’s ideal for indoor pets or those who rarely roam far from home.

3. Pawfit 3 Dog & Cat Tracker

Price:  Approx. £89.99 + subscription (from £3.59/month)

Best for:  Both health monitoring and GPS tracking

The Pawfit 3 offers a great balance of features for the price. It tracks heart rate, temperature, and daily activity, while also giving live GPS updates. Great for both cats and dogs, especially escape artists.

You’ll get alerts if your pet leaves a designated “safe zone”, and the device is fully waterproof for rainy day walks or muddy puddle adventures.

4. Petivity Smart Litter Tray Monitor (For Cats)

Price: Approx. £99

Best for: Tracking cat weight and litter tray visits

Cats are notoriously difficult to monitor. The Petivity smart litter tray monitors weight, frequency, and duration of your cat’s toilet habits key indicators for kidney disease, urinary infections, or diabetes.

The data syncs to an app, and alerts you if something seems off. It’s especially useful for multi-cat households where noticing individual changes is harder.

Are These Devices a Replacement for Vets?

Let’s be clear: no health monitor replaces your vet. They aren’t diagnostic tools, and they don’t replace hands-on exams or lab testing. However, they can act as an early warning system, prompting timely visits and more targeted questions.

Many vets are embracing this tech, especially for chronic condition management. A cat with early kidney disease or a dog with heart failure can benefit from daily, non invasive data tracking without the stress of constant appointments.

Who Can Benefit the Most?

Health monitors are particularly helpful for:

• Senior pets: to track reduced movement or subtle discomfort

• Pets with chronic conditions: like arthritis, epilepsy, or anxiety

• Active pets: to monitor calorie burn and performance

• Pets home alone often: to check they’re moving, sleeping, and behaving normally

• New rescues or adopted pets: to learn about patterns and triggers

The Costs (and Are They Worth It?)

Initial device prices range from £60 to £100+, with optional subscriptions for features like GPS, cloud storage, or data sharing with vets. Expect to pay £3–£10/month depending on the brand.

So, are they worth it? For peace of mind, early intervention, and better vet conversations many owners say yes. The average vet visit in the UK can cost £40–£100, and emergency care or diagnostics easily reaches £500–£1,000. Early detection can not only save stress, but potentially money too.

Final Thoughts

Pet health monitors are more than just a flashy gadget. They represent a shift in how we care for our animals moving from reactive to proactive, from once a year check-ups to ongoing insight.

While they won't replace your vet, they will give you a clearer picture of your pet’s health, helping you spot problems sooner and care more confidently.

So, are they the future of vet care? Not entirely. But they’re certainly becoming a vital part of it.