Telemedicine has just gone to the dogs
SAN FRANCISCO — Retail pharmacy may soon have another product to showcase as part of a comprehensive pet care set — a mobile health device to track activity for dogs. Whistle, a technology company dedicated to helping pets live longer and healthier lives, on Wednesday debuted its flagship product, a device that connects to a dog’s collar to measure key health indicators including activity and rest. Information collected from Whistle devices can be shared by pet owners with their veterinarians and will be accessible to researchers around the world, creating the largest comparative database on real-world daily activity that will be used to extend a dog's lifespan.
Pet owners can order Whistle devices for $99.95 at www.whistle.com. No plans for a retail launch have been disclosed.
“Whistle started from our love of dogs. We’re introducing a window into their lives, creating a way for owners and vets to take a preventative approach to our pets’ health,” stated Ben Jacobs, CEO Whistle. “To provide the best care requires information on day-to-day needs and long-term trends, which until now, have never been available.”
The Whistle intelligent monitoring system features a wireless device that attaches directly to a dog’s collar and a mobile application that allows pet owners to know when their dog is walking, playing or resting. Whistle provides recommendations to optimize the health of dogs based on breed, age and weight, alerting pet owners to key developments or changes in behavior, so they can share information with their vets.
“Across everything we build, our focus is providing a layer of sophisticated analytics to make sense of crucial data,” commented Steven Eidelman, head of product at Whistle. “Integrating that intelligence with a simple, fun user experience enriches the pet-owner relationship and offers a new form of communication for owners and vets.”
Whistle also announced $6 million in investments made by DCM Ventures, other venture firms and executives across the pet, retail and technology industries.
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