Infectious diseases
Illnesses caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites can spread quickly between pets, often beginning with subtle shifts in temperature, pulse, or breathing
PetPace gathers those vital signs in near real-time and transforms the robust data into clear analytics, insights, and alerts, helping you and your vet catch problems early and act fast.
Bacteria from the Ehrlichia genus are transmitted through tick bites and cause infections as they penetrate and live inside the white blood cells of the host. It is most common in the southeastern and south-central United States, with the highest prevalence in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.
Symptoms usually develop 1-3 weeks after the tick bite occurs. They may include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, lameness, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, bruising, and stumbling.
Breeds
Any dog can be bitten by a tick and attract Ehrlichiosis, but German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Belgium Malinois, and Siberian Huskies appear to get a more severe form of the disease
How can PetPace help?
The PetPace system may help in the timely detection of illness and tracking recovery following treatment:
- Fever
- Decreased activity score
- Increased pulse rate
- Decreased HRV
- Increased respiratory rate
- Decreased Pain score
- Decreased Wellness score
- Deviations from the Health Profile
- Changes in posture routine
- Decreased sleep quality
Heartworm disease is caused by a large worm called Dirofilaria immitis. Dogs attract this disease through a mosquito bite that transfers microscopic forms of the worm. The worms mature inside the host’s body, ending up in the heart and the large vessels that lead from the heart to the lungs. As the heart becomes clogged with worms, its efficiency in distributing blood to the rest of the body is compromised, and heart failure and death may ensue without proper treatment.
Symptoms of heartworm disease include cough, lethargy, labored breathing, exercise intolerance, panting, collapse, fluid build-up in the abdomen, and death.
Breeds
There is no breed predilection for heartworm disease.
How can PetPace help?
The PetPace system may help in the timely detection of illness and in monitoring dogs through the treatment phase:
- Increased pulse rate
- Decreased HRV
- Increased respiratory rate
- Decreased activity score
- Alerting for activity in dogs that are instructed to cage rest following parasiticide treatment.
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by a spiral-shaped bacteria, causing widespread inflammation in the kidneys, liver, or other organs, and is considered a medical emergency. Dogs can become infected in several ways, including contact with infected urine, contaminated water, ingesting infected tissues, or from the mother during pregnancy. Sources of infection include wildlife (raccoons, skunks, opossums), rats, and farm animals (cows, pigs).
Symptoms vary from mild or self-limiting disease to severe and life-threatening condition and include lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting/diarrhea, fever, pain, swelling of limbs and abdomen, bruising, bloody urine, jaundice, increased thirst and urination, oral ulcers, cough, labored breathing, eye inflammation, and miscarriage.
Breeds
Lepto can affect dogs of all breeds. Young, unvaccinated, or immuno-compromised dogs are at higher risk.
How can PetPace help?
The PetPace system can help in the early detection of diseases:
- Fever
- Decreased Wellness score
- Deviations from the Health Profile
- Decreased activity score
- Irregular pulse rate
- Decreased HRV
- Decreased calories burnt
- Decreased pain score
- Changes in posture routine
Lyme disease, or Borreliosis, is caused by a bacteria of the Borrelia burgdorferi species, which is transmitted by a tick, typically after it has been attached to the dog for approximately 1-2 days. The most common symptoms of Lyme disease are recurrent and shifting-leg lameness, fever, and malaise. Rarely, Lyme disease can cause damage to organs, such as the kidneys, heart, and nervous system.
Breeds
Lyme disease can occur in any dog breed following a bite by an infected tick. Labrador and Golden Retriever dogs show a higher prevalence of Lyme-induced kidney disease than other breeds.
How can PetPace help?
The PetPace system can help in the early detection of diseases:
- Fever
- Decreased Wellness score
- Deviations from the Health Profile
- Decreased activity score
- Irregular pulse rate
- Decreased HRV
- Decreased calories burnt
- Decreased pain score
- Changes in posture routine
Infection of the ear(s) is one of the most common infections in dogs. It is usually caused by bacteria, yeast, or both and most often involves the outer ear (otitis externa). Some dogs have recurrent or chronic ear infections.
Ear infections are painful. Many dogs respond by shaking their heads and scratching their ears. Ears may become red, smelly, and have a black or yellowish discharge.
Breeds
Any dog can have an ear infection, but Cocker Spaniels, Miniature Poodles, Old English Sheepdogs, Basset Hounds, Shar-Pei, Labradoodles, Beagles, and Cockapoos have a higher rate of ear infections.
How can PetPace help?
The PetPace system may help in early detection of illness and identification of treatment efficacy:
- Decreased Pain score
- Decreased Wellness score
- Deviations from the Health Profile
- Decreased activity score
- Increased posture score
- Increased pulse rate
- Decreased HRV
