The data revolution continues to revolutionise human healthcare. Big data is
being increasingly used to predict and circumvent disease epidemics, find cures
for the illnesses that plague us, and identify new ways to improve healthcare
outcomes through all stages of our lives.
From the mapping of the human genome to simple personal health tracking
apps, we are collecting more data about our health than ever before. Medical
professionals are using this data to build sophisticated digital records for their
patients, and will increasingly call on it to tailor treatments to our specific needs
and even predict and avoid the illnesses we are susceptible to.
Veterinary science is on the cusp of making the same shift. New devices will
allow vets to collect unprecedented levels of animal data that will be used in the
direct treatment of animals, as well as in related fields such as pharmaceutical
development, animal performance and breeding, and even in pet insurance.
Take WirelessZoo™ for example. This new animal telemetry device can capture
an enormous range of data via wireless sensors attached to the animal. This is a
big step forward from cumbersome wired devices that are only capable of
monitoring animals while under anaesthesia during surgery or while in post-
operative care.
However, using a wireless device to easily collect animal data in a wide range of
circumstances is only the beginning. Data is only as good as our ability to analyse
it, and proper analysis requires easy access to large amounts of data.
That’s why WirelessZoo™ is also building a cloud-based database that will store
and categorise uploaded data from all our devices. Vets from all over the world
will be able to access this data to identify the most effective treatment options
for their patients.
For example, if you are concerned about putting a 12-year-old female Labrador
under anaesthetic, you can search the database to find out how other 12-year-old
female Labradors have reacted to various anaesthetic doses.
Or PhD students can use the data collected in conjunction with their thesis to
provide a conduit for their research that was previously unavailable.
This technology has the potential to help vets significantly improve care
outcomes for patients, and healthier patients mean happier clients.
We also predict that as the database develops, pharmaceutical companies will
use the data to manufacture medications that are customised for certain animal
breeds, ages and sexes – much in the same way that the big data revolution has
personalised human healthcare.
For more information on WirelessZoo™, please visit www.wireless-zoo.com
