How Can Artificial Intelligence Help With Pet Care? The Interesting Answer
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning used to be something we only saw in movies and on television. Today, AI is everywhere and is advancing at a rapid pace.
Instead of worrying about robots potentially taking over the world and ruining human civilization as we know it, we’re focusing on the positives of these big tech advancements. Here we will discuss the current capabilities of artificial intelligence and how it can help us better care for our pets.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
While closely related, AI and machine learning are different overall, but they go hand in hand in the development and utilization of these advanced technologies.
How Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Can Help with Pet Care at Home
Pet Tracking
Have you noticed the capabilities of the most high-tech pet trackers on the market today? These trackers do much more than just relay your pet’s precise location, they can monitor and track some of your pet’s daily activities, such as movement levels, rest patterns, and similar metrics, depending on the device. These devices also allow you to set up geofencing to ensure you are notified if your pet goes outside a designated area.
The algorithm in the trackers can notify you per your preferences and will also alert you if there is a change in your pet’s normal patterns. This can allow you to look further into any behavioral changes and contact your veterinarian if there is a potential health concern, although these devices are not diagnostic and should not replace veterinary evaluation.
Pet Cameras
Pet cameras can be just as advanced as the security cameras we use for our homes. There is video analytics software programmed to notice some potentially unusual activity patterns and may alert you depending on the system’s capabilities and settings. These cameras can connect to apps and communicate with you directly through your phone, and allow you to peer in on your pet at any time. You can even use these cameras to communicate with your pet through microphones. Most of these cameras will also connect to Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa to work hand in hand for your convenience.
Smart Feeders
A smart feeder has abilities that would be hard to believe even just a short time ago. These feeders are now capable of customizing your pet’s mealtimes, scheduling, and dispersing the right quantity for feedings, and can even determine when the pet food is running low, alerting you when it’s time to buy more food. In addition to that, some will even connect you to coupons and discounts on food and supplies.
Smart feeders can also monitor your pet’s eating habits and will notify you if anything unusual is happening. These algorithms are so advanced that they can alert you to changes in the consumption of water or food to let you know it may be worth a veterinary checkup. Most of these smart feeders will work alongside your mobile device so that you can give voice commands and have complete control of your pet’s diet, even from afar.
Cleaning
You have probably already heard of the robotic vacuums that are taking the world by storm with their automatic cleaning abilities. Well, this can be very helpful to pet parents too. There’s nothing like having a robotic vacuum handle the pet hair and mess while you are away or even doing some other chore in the home. These vacuums are incredible, they use a combination of sensors (such as infrared, cameras, or laser-based systems) to navigate and detect debris. Some can even learn floor plans and will be at your disposal for cleaning anytime you need it.
Fitness and Companionship Robots
Currently, robots are being developed to help pets keep fit and active through play. These robots will be designed with sensors and, in some cases, basic AI systems that can recognize obstacles in the house such as walls and furniture to prevent it from getting stuck while playing with your pet. There are also robotic pets that are currently used for the purpose of human companionship but could easily be adapted to companionship for your pet. These robots are not considered pet products, but actual robots. These robots are said to be able to simulate certain social interactions, but they do not form true emotional bonds like living animals.
Dog Walking
Currently in the works are AI-based on-demand dog-walking technologies. This would give owners a more personalized dog-walking service that could track routes, bathroom breaks, interactions with others, and even the duration of the walk.
How Artificial Intelligence Can Help with Veterinary Care
In addition to helping with pet care at home, AI and machine learning are making leaps and bounds in medical care for both humans and animals.
Pet Telehealth
Veterinary telehealth is a growing industry that is becoming more and more conveniently available. Some of the apps that connect you to devices such as pet cameras and trackers will also connect you directly to a veterinarian as needed, either through the app or directly through your mobile phone through text or call.
A chatbot is a popular software that closely mimics a natural human conversation, whether written or spoken. Chatbots are used in a variety of settings, but veterinary clinics can now install chatbots on their websites as the first level of interaction with their clients. These systems can help answer general pet health questions and provide educational information, but they do not independently diagnose medical conditions or replace veterinary assessment. If the doctor is needed, the bot will determine that and offer a direct connection to the veterinarian.
Diagnostics
Machine learning and AI are very efficient and can assist with diagnostics in a medical setting. Concerning diagnostic imaging, machine learning works by analyzing a bank of images to learn parts of the anatomy to properly judge what is normal. The more images provided, the more precise the machine’s understanding becomes. Once the software determines what is normal, it can then identify potential abnormalities for the veterinarian.
Patient Monitoring
Similar to how you can monitor your pet at home via a tracker or camera, veterinarians will be utilizing AI to monitor patients. AI will be able to monitor vital signs, eating and drinking behavior, and notify of anything unusual that needs to be addressed.
Drug Development
Artificial Intelligence can potentially make the drug development processes faster and more cost-effective. The goals for AI used in the pharmaceutical industry are to reduce the time it takes for drugs to become available to patients in need.
Surgery
Artificial Intelligence has already made its way into the operating room. A lot of human surgeries are completed using robots that are controlled by the surgeon, and soon this will also reach veterinary medicine. AI-based algorithms combined with the precision and control of these surgical robots are revolutionizing surgery into a new age of medical care.
Conclusion
Machine learning and AI are making ongoing advancements in the world of pet care, whether it be at home or in the veterinary clinic. At home, it can help with tracking, activity, and behavior trends, monitoring, feeding, cleaning, and much more. When it comes to medical care, AI can save time and improve accuracy in all areas.
Featured Image Credit: muslody.com, Shutterstock
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I am a wife, mother, nature enthusiast, animal lover, and business major. I was born and raised in Ohio but now live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We share our home with a German Shepherd, several snakes, tarantulas, and a couple rescue cats.
My husband and I enjoy traveling the US with our kids and photographing wildlife. My passion is to educate others on the importance of proper animal care, with an emphasis on reptiles and exotics since their care requirements can be much more complex. I am also a huge advocate for bully breeds. I feel most at home in the forest either on horseback or in hiking boots.
