Evaluation of a novel canine activity monitor for at-home physical activity analysis

BMC Veterinary Research

Felix M. Duerr¹  Colleen G. Duncan²  Jonathan M. Yashari¹ 

[1] Department of Clinical Sciences, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523, CO, USA;Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523, CO, USA

关键词: Gait analysis;    Osteoarthritis;    Accelerometer;    Physical activity monitoring;   

Others  :  1219092
DOI  :  10.1186/s12917-015-0457-y

 received in 2014-12-13, accepted in 2015-06-22,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

Background

Accelerometers are motion-sensing devices that have been used to assess physical activity in dogs. However, the lack of a user-friendly, inexpensive accelerometer has hindered the widespread use of this objective outcome measure in veterinary research. Recently, a smartphone-based, affordable activity monitor (Whistle) has become available for measurement of at-home physical activity in dogs. The aim of this research was to evaluate this novel accelerometer. Eleven large breed, privately owned dogs wore a collar fitted with both the Whistle device and a previously validated accelerometer-based activity monitor (Actical) for a 24-h time period. Owners were asked to have their dogs resume normal daily activities. Total activity time obtained from the Whistle device in minutes was compared to the total activity count from the Actical device. Activity intensity from the Whistle device was calculated manually from screenshots of the activity bars displayed in the smartphone-application and compared to the activity count recorded by the Actical in the same 3-min time period.

Results

A total of 3740 time points were compared. There was a strong correlation between activity intensity of both devices for individual time points (Pearson’s correlation coefficient 0.81, p < 0.0001). An even stronger correlation was observed between the total activity data between the two devices (Pearson’s correlation coefficient 0.925, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Activity data provided by the Whistle activity monitor may be used as an objective outcome measurement in dogs. The total activity time provided by the Whistle application offers an inexpensive method for obtaining at-home, canine, real-time physical activity data. Limitations of the Whistle device include the limited battery life, the need for manual derivation of activity intensity data and data transfer, and the requirement of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth availability for data transmission.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Yashari et al.

【 图 表 】

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

【 参考文献 】

• [1]Brown DC, Boston RC, Farrar JT. Use of an activity monitor to detect response to treatment in dogs with osteoarthritis. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2010; 237(1):66-70.
• [2]Yam PS, Penpraze V, Young D, Todd MS, Cloney AD, Houston Callaghan KA et al.. Validity, practical utility and reliability of Actigraph accelerometry for the measurement of habitual physical activity in dogs. J Small Anim Pract. 2011; 52(2):86-91.
• [3]Morrison R, Penpraze V, Greening R, Underwood T, Reilly J, Yam P. Correlates of objectively measured physical activity in dogs. Vet J. 2014; 199(2):263-267.
• [4]Michel K, Brown D. Determination and application of cut points for accelerometer-based activity counts of activities with differing intensity in pet dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2011; 72(7):866-870.
• [5]Lascelles BDX, Hansen B, Thomson A, Pierce C, Boland E, Smith ES. Evaluation of a digitally integrated accelerometer-based activity monitor for the measurement of activity in cats. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2008; 35(2):173-183.
• [6]Hansen B, Lascelles D, Keene B, Adams A, Thomson A, Lascelles BDX. Evaluation of an accelerometer for at-home monitoring of spontaneous activity in dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2007; 68(5):468-475.
• [7]Stratford P, Kennedy D. Performance measures were necessary to obtain a complete picture of osteoarthritic patients. J Clin Epidemiol. 2006; 59(2):160-167.
• [8]Moreau M, Siebert S, Buerkert A, Schlecht E. Use of a tri-axial accelerometer for automated recording and classification of goats’ grazing behaviour. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2009; 119(3):158-170.
• [9]Troiano RP, Berrigan D, Dodd KW, Masse LC, Tilert T, McDowell M. Physical activity in the United States measured by accelerometer. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008; 40(1):181.
• [10]Yamada M, Tokuriki M. Spontaneous activities measured continuously by an accelerometer in beagle dogs housed in a cage. J Vet Med Sci. 2000; 62(4):443-447.
• [11]Preston T, Baltzer W, Trost S. Accelerometer validity and placement for detection of changes in physical activity in dogs under controlled conditions on a treadmill. Res Vet Sci. 2012; 93(1):412-416.
• [12]Dow C, Michel KE, Love M, Brown DC. Evaluation of optimal sampling interval for activity monitoring in companion dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2009; 70(4):444-448.
• [13]Rialland P, Bichot S, Moreau M, Guillot M, Lussier B, Gauvin D, Martel-Pelletier J, Pelletier J-P, Troncy E. Clinical validity of outcome pain measures in naturally occurring canine osteoarthritis. BMC Vet Res. 2012; 8:162-2. BioMed Central Full Text
• [14]Morrison R, Reilly J, Penpraze V, Pendlebury E, Yam P. A 6‐month observational study of changes in objectively measured physical activity during weight loss in dogs. J Small Anim Pract. 2014; 55(11):566-570.
• [15]Wohlfarth R, Mutschler B, Beetz A, Kreuser F, Korsten-Reck U. Dogs motivate obese children for physical activity: key elements of a motivational theory of animal-assisted interventions. Front Psychol. 2013; 4:796.
• [16]Timperio A, Salmon J, Chu B, Andrianopoulos N. Is dog ownership or dog walking associated with weight status in children and their parents? Health Promot J Austr. 2008; 19(1):60-63.
• [17]Sirard JR, Patnode CD, Hearst MO, Laska MN. Dog ownership and adolescent physical activity. Am J Prev Med. 2011; 40(3):334-337.
• [18]Penpraze V, Reilly JJ, Grant SJ, Paton JY, Montgomery C, Kelly LA et al.. How many days of monitoring are required for representative measurements of physical activity in children? Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003; 35(5):S286.