While we may not be up to speed with the technological advancements of the Jetsons and their lovable Astro, to quote Bob Dylan, “The Times They Are A-Changin’!” To help keep up with the newest trends in the pet world, the team at RAWZ wanted to share some technology-driven advancements that can contribute to the health and happiness of your pet!
Veterinary Care
In their review of how technological advancement over the last 25 years has revolutionized pet medical care, the American Animal Hospital Association shared some of the most valuable tech tools for improved care:
Digital X-rays - Gone are the days of separate imaging facilities and delayed readings of diagnostic imaging. With digital X-rays, instant results become possible, quickening the diagnosis process.
Mobile Apps - There truly is an app for that! In our fast-paced world which often seems to revolve around our mobile devices, applications that increase the ease of veterinary care have many possible uses. Whether streamlining scheduling, organizing care, or interactive reminders and alerts, veterinarian focused apps offer countless benefits!
Online Pharmacy - With the hustle and bustle of life making it easier for things to slip through the cracks, any streamlining of pet care is beneficial. The benefit of automated online prescriptions and fulfillment make things like routine treatments (i.e., heartworm/flea and tick prevention) less burdensome.
Digital Collaboration - Thanks to digitization, lab results from vet visits are now available to view on our phones. These results can also be easily shared with other veterinary professionals, helping improve patient outcomes.
Enhanced Client Education - With educational videos, infographics and personalized care portals being readily available to pet owners, veterinarians see great potential of these tools to improve compliance with aftercare and preventative health measures.
Nutrition
While I’d like to take the credit for formulating our recipes and preparation methods to produce “The Next Best Thing to Feeding Raw”, it takes a village. Our amazing friends, BSM Partners, are a team of PhDs, board-certified veterinarians, and nutritionists who offer 400+ years of cumulative technical experience. On the topic of pet tech, BSM offers some great insight into the role of AI in the future of pet food.
Perhaps the most significant application of AI in pet nutrition is the prospect of personalizing diet plans. According to Neeley Bowden from BSM (2024), “Through genetic testing, AI algorithms can identify genetic markers associated with specific health conditions, sensitivities, and potential nutrient deficiencies or excesses.” With this understanding, nutritional adjustments can be preemptively made.
But with technological advancements come ethical concerns. Data privacy concerns abound when it comes to personal information, while the potential bias of AI models must be monitored to ensure optimal outcomes.
Enrichment
With our busy lives it can be tough to keep a consistent schedule with our four-legged family. Fortunately, a couple of technologically advanced tools are available to help you be in more than one place at the same time:
Auto Feeders - While all pets have different feeding schedules, eating meals at consistent times is advisable! To weed through the best auto feeding options, we turned to Expert Top Choice, a website committed to helping consumers make smarter and more informed product purchases. Topping their list is the FeediChow Automatic Pet Feeder. Featuring the ability to store 10 different meal schedules and made with premium construction, the FeediChow can even keep you updated through smartphone connectivity.
To Say Hello - We’re all probably familiar with Ring cams, so why shouldn’t there be pet cameras that allow you to keep an eye on your beloved four-legged family? Fortunately, many of these devices allow for syncing with mobile phones and feature microphones to facilitate communication. And hey, why not give your friend a snack? Some of these great options from PC Mag can even toss out a treat!
While we haven’t progressed to a Jetson-like futuristic stage of living, with new technology the possibilities of improving our pets’ lives are endless. While you may not have a dog named Astro or a cat named Siri at home, feeding a minimally processed recipe from RAWZ is always a great way to fuel your pet for a healthy and happy life!
