The Internet of Things (IoT) has had a significant impact on most areas of life already, including the ways we work, interact, shop, exercise, and run our homes. Now, though, we’re also seeing the rise of connected devices in the world of pet care. 
Smart devices can help us look after our cherished animals and improve their health. They can also reduce our concerns about pets when we’re not home with them. Read on for ways IoT is impacting pet care in 2020 and beyond.
Find Animals
Sometimes, no matter how diligent we are, pets manage to get out of their yards, or they run away during walks or other outings when distracted. Thankfully, IoT devices can help reduce the chances of this kind of situation turning into a pet parent’s worst nightmare.
There are numerous tracking collars and attachments on the market now that make it quicker and easier to find lost animals. These products generally work via GPS to track and locate our furry family members. As a user, though, do be sure to consider security on these products, and all the IoT devices you use, as they can be prime hacker targets. Use programs, such as the comprehensive Trend Micro ID Security software, to protect your data and home.
The prime upside of these connected devices for pet owners is that they can let you know right away if your pet has gone somewhere they shouldn’t. Many of the trackers, including the popular Whistle option, send alerts to an owner’s smartphone if a pet moves out of their pre-determined “safe zone.” Alerts get sent by text, email, or the product app, and customers receive regular location updates with real-time GPS tracking to find their animals ASAP.
Health and Activity Monitoring
You may want to monitor your animal’s health and activity levels, too. IoT devices can help with this. Many of the trackers mentioned above, including Whistle’s, also double as activity gadgets, plus there are separate devices available, too. These products can let you know the number of hours your pet has slept, the distance they’ve run, and how many calories they’ve burned over a period.
Connected monitoring tools provide pet owners with an idea of how much licking and scratching a pet has done, and send notifications for things that may indicate changes in regular behavior patterns. Owners can also receive weekly wellness reports and monthly stats to keep on top of things, while vets can be emailed 30-day automatic health reports.
Plus, gadgets can give customers an idea of a pet’s recommended daily activity based on their age, breed, and weight, and provide updates on the number of calories an animal has burned. There are also nutrition calculators and reminders for medication, vet, and grooming appointments. If you have more than one pet, monitor all of them through a single app to make life easier.
Keep An Eye on Them from Afar
If you’re like many pet owners, you feel guilty when you leave your animal(s) home alone for too long and worried about what they might get up to. Never fear, though, as internet-connected gadgets can help. Watch your animals from afar via IoT cameras.
Products such as market-leading Furbo dog camera and pet nanny, and solutions from other manufacturers, allow you to see your animals via cameras and even speak to them, too, so furry friends don’t feel so lonely. Such devices have quality microphones and speakers. Some models also include integrated treat tossers, so you can have machines flick out pre-loaded treats to keep dogs happy and busy during the day.
These kinds of products also keep you abreast of other happenings, such as excessive noise alerts and indications of barking, distress, or things getting knocked over. An added benefit is being alerted to potential intruders in the home. Gadgets send real-time alerts to pet owners’ smartphones. Plus, if you miss your pet doing something funny or sweet during the day, many products allow you to play back special moments via video recordings saved to the cloud.
Feed Pets
Another handy thing tech tools can help us with is making sure our fur babies are properly fed and watered while we’re out. There are many IoT bowls owners can buy that will dispense nutrition throughout the day. Some work with Alexa and Google Assistant commands while others take on board pet feedback such as barks, whines, and meows to keep bowls stocked up. They may also be programmed to deliver food and water at certain times of the day. 
We must take steps to keep all internet-connected devices secure from cybercriminals. But the benefits arising from using smart pet products make it worth at least testing the gadgets. They can improve animals’ happiness and well-being while also reducing human stress and guilt.
