So, what should we measure?

Among all health markers, physical activity stands out as a crucial factor in predicting future health and lifespan.

A study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014 data showed that for people aged 50-80, activity levels—measured by a wearable activity monitor—predicted all-cause mortality better than other traditional markers, like age and presence of diseases.

To put it plainly, the amount of exercise people do predicts how likely they are to die in the near future. And it predicts this better than age or disease status.

That’s huge.

We also know that tracking activity levels in people with a wearable activity monitor can actually change behavior and lead to an increase in exercise and activity, although this effect seems to wear off after 3- 6 months. What we need is a permanent way to change our habits, and keep these positive changes going in our lives. The book Atomic Habits by James Clear is a great resource for actionable tips to reinforce good habits, and decrease bad habits. One of the tips is to make a habit satisfying by tracking progress visually and celebrating small wins.

Activity monitors can help us do that, for ourselves and our pets.

Why?

To make hard changes and persist with hard actions, you also need a strong why—the reason behind the commitment to do the hard thing. Let’s look at the known benefits of exercise, both for people and for pets, and give you some food for thought about your personal why.

Scientifically-Backed Benefits in People:

Reduced all-cause mortality – the strongest predictor of longevity we know of
Improved cardiovascular health – reduces heart disease risk by up to 35%
Enhanced cognitive function and reduced dementia risk by up to 45%
Better blood sugar control and diabetes management
Reduced depression and anxiety symptoms by up to 30%

Longevity expert Dr. Peter Attia, author of Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, talks about the value of exercise.

"I cannot emphasize this point enough – regular exercise is the most potent longevity "drug" we have."

Likely for pets too! Get them moving and everyone benefits. It's win-win. https://t.co/3LWsaE2TM2
— Dr. April Veterinarian (@Dr_April_DVM) February 7, 2025

Scientifically-Backed Benefits in Pets:

Better weight management and metabolic health than diet alone
Better joint health and mobility, both in cats and dogs
Increased cognitive function in older dogs and cats
Decreased risk of heart disease
Better behavior and sleep quality
Better immune function

For me, it’s deeply personal. I had kids late in life and desperately want to watch their lives unfold—to be there, healthy and active, to see their big moments and maybe even chase around some grandkids one day.

And as a vet, my commitment to walking my dog every day comes from a place of knowing. I’ve seen too many pets struggle with obesity and arthritis, their lives cut short or filled with preventable pain. When my dog lies down at the front door every morning, waiting to go for a walk, I realize he’s counting on me to make good choices for both of us (as I write this, he is literally staring at me and waiting!). Walking in the woods is also the thing we most love to do, so that helps get us out the door!

Huckleberry patiently waiting for his walk

You may wonder why I didn’t include increased lifespan as a benefit of exercise in pets. That is because the studies aren’t there yet. But they are coming.

The Dog Aging Project is a large 10 year study beginning in 2019, with 40,000+ dogs enrolled. This study is actually very important for human medical knowledge because dogs live in the same environment we do, get similar aging diseases, and best of all, we can study the whole lifespan of a dog in under 15 years.

As a dog lover, I always think it terribly unfair that they don’t live as long as we do, but for the purpose of studying changes with aging, this sad fact allows us to gain valuable insights.

One important area of study is the link between exercise and brain health.

Dogs get a type of dementia called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD), quite similar to Alzheimer’s in people. Early published results from the project link more active dogs with less severe signs of CCD, and slower progression of disease.

How can we monitor the amount of activity they are getting?

Wearable fitness trackers can be used to track exercise levels, using the same technology as the FitBit or Apple watch.

An accelerometer like FitBark measures movement in 3 directions, allowing the monitor to count steps as well as determine the type and intensity of movement ( walking vs running). We can connect it to an app on our phones, or even your own FitBit or Apple Health. You can set activity goals, monitor for changes in normal activity, compare your pet to other similar ones, share with your veterinarian and even join a friendly competition. Some monitors also have GPS so you can see where your pet has been.

FitBark gives us information on activity, play and rest time, sleep score, calories burned and distance travelled.

The revolutionary use of this tech in veterinary medicine is just beginning. It gives owners and vets objective information—not just subjective observations—about a pet’s activity level. This is useful for:

Evaluating response to arthritis (or other pain) treatment
Monitoring effectiveness of weight loss programs
Monitoring recovery from surgery
Looking at stress levels when separated from family
Measuring itchiness and response to treatment of skin disease
Recognizing problems early

When owners and vets know a pet’s normal activity patterns, changes in these patterns can signal health issues before other symptoms appear.

At this time, activity monitors are used more for research in pets, versus day to day pet health care in veterinary clinics. This will change as owners share valuable information about their pet’s activity with their vets.

A few tips…

It must be placed on a collar, not a harness
It is less accurate for on-leash walking compared to off-leash—accelerometers are calibrated to measure natural dog movement patterns, and those patterns are different on a harness, and when a leash is used (study evaluating FitBark monitor)
Cats have a different movement pattern so a device must be made and calibrated for a cat specifically
Less practical to ask a cat to wear a collar with a device 24-7, even a small one

There are a wide variety of wearable activity monitors available, from the simple to the complex. Many have GPS to locate your pet. Some even have vital sign monitors—heart rate, temperature and respiratory rate.

A pet activity monitor can be a fun and motivating addition to a pet family. After all, when you track your pet’s exercise, you’re not just looking at numbers – you’re creating opportunities for the whole family to build lasting, active habits together.