BURLINGTON, Mass., Feb. 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - PetPace, the provider of an innovative IoT collar for remote real-time monitoring and analysis of pet vital signs and activity, today released the findings of a new medical case study. The case study, available for download here, documents in detail how the PetPace collar provides accurate real-time data, along with long-term trend data, that helps caregivers adjust treatment plans for optimal clinical results in DCM patients.
The case study discusses Chester, a 10-year-old, 43lb, male American Cocker Spaniel, who was brought to MediVet Warbreck House Veterinary Centre in Liverpool, UK, after suffering from weakness, lethargy and labored breathing for 24 hours. Following a thorough work-up, Chester was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), with secondary Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).
DCM is a disease of the heart muscle characterized by enlargement of the heart chamber(s). It involves decreased contractility of the heart muscle and subsequent enlargement to compensate for the decreased functionality. As in Chester's case, DCM may eventually lead to CHF, when fluids accumulate in the patient's lungs, abdomen, and more.
Chester was hospitalized and received intravenous Pimobendan, a drug intended to increase the contractile force of the heart. He also received supportive care and close monitoring. A PetPace collar was placed on Chester to help closely monitor his condition during hospitalization and at home, following his release.
The PetPace collar provided a clear clinical indicator of the medication's positive effect, documenting Chester's pulse indices, which showed a clear improvement immediately after starting treatment. Likewise, Chester's Heart Rate Variability (HRV) improved significantly after the first day, as seen in the accompanied graphs.
The PetPace collar can accurately detect short- and long-term changes in key parameters that help caregivers manage DCM. Clinicians can use data accrued to assess condition severity, measure patient response to treatment, and enable timely detection of deterioration. The preliminary phases of DCM, which may develop over several years before symptoms manifest, may be detectable via certain changes in trends data accumulated by PetPace - allowing early detection and intervention.
"The PetPace collar provided us with high-resolution clinical data at the hospital, which helped stabilize the patient. More importantly, the collar monitored the patient at home, after discharge," noted Dr. Andrew McVey, Veterinary Surgeon and Partner at MediVet Warbreck House Veterinary Centre in Liverpool, UK. "The data from the PetPace collar was instrumental in assessing the patient's condition and making clinical decisions. This technology, never before available to veterinarians, can raise patient care and the customer relationship to a new level," he concluded.
"Most dogs and cats with chronic heart diseases are treated at home, often taking combinations of medications for months or years. It is challenging for clinicians to manage these cases when objective, quantifiable data is available only during occasional office visits," said Dr. Asaf Dagan, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Canine and Feline practice), and PetPace's Chief Veterinarian. "The availability of continuous, highly-detailed, clinically-oriented data, reports and analytics will change what we know about the natural course of diseases and the most effective ways to treat them," he added.
About PetPace
PetPace was founded in 2012 to bring peace of mind to pet owners and prevent unnecessary pain and suffering for dogs and cats through improved pet health and quality of life. PetPace specializes in the remote monitoring of pet vital signs by utilizing advanced analytical methods and alerting models. The company's low power, wireless collar is fitted with an array of sensors that report abnormal vital signs within established physiological and behavioral parameters. Once an abnormal sign or behavior is detected, a sophisticated cloud-based analytical engine evaluates the signs and if needed, sends an immediate alert regarding any suspected condition. This allows the owner or the vet to take preemptive action to protect the pet's health. For more information about PetPace real-time pet health monitoring, visit http://PetPace.com.
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