Response of pet owners to Whistle FIT® activity monitor digital alerts of increased pruritic activity in their dogs: a retrospective observational study
Pruritus is a common clinical sign in dogs and is often underrecognized by dog owners and veterinarians. The Whistle FIT®, a wearable accelerometer paired with analytics, can detect changes in pruritic activity in dogs, which can be reported to owners in a smartphone/tablet application. The objectiv...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1123266/full |
| _version_ | 1827871701515370496 |
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| author | Aletha Carson Cassie Kresnye Taranpreet Rai Kevin Wells Andrea Wright Andrew Hillier |
| author_facet | Aletha Carson Cassie Kresnye Taranpreet Rai Kevin Wells Andrea Wright Andrew Hillier |
| author_sort | Aletha Carson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pruritus is a common clinical sign in dogs and is often underrecognized by dog owners and veterinarians. The Whistle FIT®, a wearable accelerometer paired with analytics, can detect changes in pruritic activity in dogs, which can be reported to owners in a smartphone/tablet application. The objectives of this retrospective observational study were to investigate the impact of digital alerts for increased pruritic behaviors received by dog owners in a real-life setting, on (1) the initiation of veterinary clinic visits, and (2) if such visits resulted in initiation of therapy for pruritus. Whistle FIT® data and electronic health records from 1,042 Banfield veterinary clinics in the United States were obtained for a 20-month period and reviewed retrospectively. Data on times of increased pruritic behaviors was calculated retrospectively by the investigators by applying the same algorithms used in the Whistle system. Data from the first 10-month interval was compared to the second 10 months, when reports on pruritic behaviors and alerts for increased pruritic behaviors were viewable by pet owners. Signalment of dogs with clinic visits in the first (n = 7,191) and second (n = 6,684) 10-month groups was similar. The total number of pruritic alerts was 113,530 in the first 10 months and 93,217 in the second 10 months. The odds of an ‘alert visit’ (the first veterinary clinic visit that occurred within 4 weeks after the time of a pruritus alert) was statistically significantly more likely (odds ratio, 1.6264; 95% CI, 1.57–1.69; p < 0.0001) in the second 10-month period compared to the first 10-month period. The total number of medications administered was 10,829 in the first 10 months and 9,863 in the second 10 months. The percentage of medications prescribed within 4 weeks after a pruritus alert was higher in the second 10 month period (53.3%) compared to the first 10 month period (38.8%). This study suggests that pruritus alerts sent to dog owners may improve owner recognition of pruritic behaviors and increase the likelihood of a veterinary visit to treat canine pruritus. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:14:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-88b63a7d874540aaa615da75ca00364f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:14:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-88b63a7d874540aaa615da75ca00364f2023-08-09T08:09:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692023-08-011010.3389/fvets.2023.11232661123266Response of pet owners to Whistle FIT® activity monitor digital alerts of increased pruritic activity in their dogs: a retrospective observational studyAletha Carson0Cassie Kresnye1Taranpreet Rai2Kevin Wells3Andrea Wright4Andrew Hillier5Pet Insight Project, At-Home Diagnostics, Mars Science & Diagnostics, New York, NY, United StatesPet Insight Project, At-Home Diagnostics, Mars Science & Diagnostics, New York, NY, United StatesThe Veterinary Health Innovation Engine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, United KingdomThe Veterinary Health Innovation Engine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, United KingdomZoetis, Parsippany, NJ, United StatesZoetis, Parsippany, NJ, United StatesPruritus is a common clinical sign in dogs and is often underrecognized by dog owners and veterinarians. The Whistle FIT®, a wearable accelerometer paired with analytics, can detect changes in pruritic activity in dogs, which can be reported to owners in a smartphone/tablet application. The objectives of this retrospective observational study were to investigate the impact of digital alerts for increased pruritic behaviors received by dog owners in a real-life setting, on (1) the initiation of veterinary clinic visits, and (2) if such visits resulted in initiation of therapy for pruritus. Whistle FIT® data and electronic health records from 1,042 Banfield veterinary clinics in the United States were obtained for a 20-month period and reviewed retrospectively. Data on times of increased pruritic behaviors was calculated retrospectively by the investigators by applying the same algorithms used in the Whistle system. Data from the first 10-month interval was compared to the second 10 months, when reports on pruritic behaviors and alerts for increased pruritic behaviors were viewable by pet owners. Signalment of dogs with clinic visits in the first (n = 7,191) and second (n = 6,684) 10-month groups was similar. The total number of pruritic alerts was 113,530 in the first 10 months and 93,217 in the second 10 months. The odds of an ‘alert visit’ (the first veterinary clinic visit that occurred within 4 weeks after the time of a pruritus alert) was statistically significantly more likely (odds ratio, 1.6264; 95% CI, 1.57–1.69; p < 0.0001) in the second 10-month period compared to the first 10-month period. The total number of medications administered was 10,829 in the first 10 months and 9,863 in the second 10 months. The percentage of medications prescribed within 4 weeks after a pruritus alert was higher in the second 10 month period (53.3%) compared to the first 10 month period (38.8%). This study suggests that pruritus alerts sent to dog owners may improve owner recognition of pruritic behaviors and increase the likelihood of a veterinary visit to treat canine pruritus.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1123266/fullpruritus alertscratchinglickingwearable activity monitordermatologypet owner |
| spellingShingle | Aletha Carson Cassie Kresnye Taranpreet Rai Kevin Wells Andrea Wright Andrew Hillier Response of pet owners to Whistle FIT® activity monitor digital alerts of increased pruritic activity in their dogs: a retrospective observational study Frontiers in Veterinary Science pruritus alert scratching licking wearable activity monitor dermatology pet owner |
| title | Response of pet owners to Whistle FIT® activity monitor digital alerts of increased pruritic activity in their dogs: a retrospective observational study |
| title_full | Response of pet owners to Whistle FIT® activity monitor digital alerts of increased pruritic activity in their dogs: a retrospective observational study |
| title_fullStr | Response of pet owners to Whistle FIT® activity monitor digital alerts of increased pruritic activity in their dogs: a retrospective observational study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Response of pet owners to Whistle FIT® activity monitor digital alerts of increased pruritic activity in their dogs: a retrospective observational study |
| title_short | Response of pet owners to Whistle FIT® activity monitor digital alerts of increased pruritic activity in their dogs: a retrospective observational study |
| title_sort | response of pet owners to whistle fit r activity monitor digital alerts of increased pruritic activity in their dogs a retrospective observational study |
| topic | pruritus alert scratching licking wearable activity monitor dermatology pet owner |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1123266/full |
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