Pet fitness as part of a modern lifestyle

More walkers

The human fitness trend continues to grow, and the impact of COVID-19 and lockdowns has been seen in increased outdoor walking and hiking. A Mintel study shows that sign-ups to exercise tracking app Strava grew by 2 million a month during 2020, with uploads of outdoor walks increasing by a third. 30% of 55-64 year-olds and 24% of 16-24 year-olds in the UK have started walking (compared to 16% in 2018 for the younger age group).

Overweight and diabetes

Obesity in pets caused by overfeeding and lack of exercise is still very much a concern. In the US in 2020, Mintel findings show that 56% of dogs are estimated to be overweight. There has been a 911% (!) increase in diabetes in dogs and cats since 2011.

As pet industry trends tend to follow the human market, it is not surprising that pet fitness accessory sales are really on the rise. A good example is wearable technology. With adults tracking their fitness using special watches and phone apps, pets are also benefitting. The global pet wearables market is estimated to reach $4.6 billion (€3.9 billion) by 2027 (Grand View Research study 2020). This includes predicted market growth in the Asia Pacific region, mainly China and India.

Tracking and monitoring health

So how does wearable technology help with pet fitness? Pet fitness technology uses a wide range of innovations – Wi-Fi enabled RFID sensors, GPS trackers, motion sensors, Bluetooth, accelerometer sensors, camera, transmitters and antennae. Wearable technology does not just track where the dog – or cat – wanders each day. It also monitors the amount, type and extent of their activity. Statistical tracking measures the pet’s rest patterns and calories burnt, as well as their heart rate. This provides the pet owner with measurements that can even predict and diagnose medical problems. So veterinary professionals can use this data not just to treat ill health, but also to monitor changes that may lead to problems.

Pet fitness industry is helping humans too

The industry can help set exercise goals for both dogs and their owners. Just 30 minutes’ exercise each day is not hard to achieve and can reduce the risk of developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes and many forms of cancer. That is good news since most ‘fitness’ discussions can seem daunting.

Wider benefits of fitter pets

If pet health deteriorates, insurers are likely to carefully check the type of veterinary costs incurred and alter insurance premiums to match. A situation where owners can provide tracked, vital details about how fit their pets are, in order to keep their insurance costs down, is one of the many benefits of wearable technology.