I Tried Top 7 Pet Health Monitors Of 2025: These 3 Made The Cut
- Nick
- Jun 3, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 6, 2025
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Today, I welcome you to our Top Picks. It is no mistake you're here. I know how unsettling it can be when your pet isn't acting like their usual self. They can't tell us where it hurts or if they're feeling off, and that uncertainty can be heart-wrenching. I've been there watching for subtle signs, second-guessing every behavior, and wishing for a clearer window into their well-being.
That's why I decided to test 7 different pet health monitors to find the ones that stood out. Indeed. While they are designed to promise to bridge the communication gap between pets and their humans, PetPace Smart Collar 2.0, Whistle Go Explore and FitBark 2 Dog Activity Monitor stood out for me. But then, not all gadgets are created equal, so I rolled up my sleeves (and bribed my pets with treats) to see which ones lived up to the hype.
After scouring for top-rated and best-selling pet health monitors, I selected the following seven devices for testing:
PetPace Smart Collar 2.0 – This one is an AI-powered collar that monitors heart rate, pain, anxiety, and stress, so that you have a near-real-time alerts and health tracking.
Whistle Go Explore – This is a GPS location tracker that also monitors your pet's health and behavior, so you get alerts into scratching, licking, and more.
FitBark 2 Dog Activity Monitor – This is a lightweight device that tracks activity, sleep quality, distance, and calories burned, helping you set health goals for your dog.
Minitailz Health & GPS Tracker – This device is designed to monitor cardiac and respiratory health, along with real-time location tracking and activity analysis.
CHOICEMMED Pulse Oximeter Monitor – This one measures SpO2 and pulse rate, suitable for both dogs and cats, offering Bluetooth connectivity so you can monitor your pet with ease.
Whistle Health Smart Device – If you're looking into something to Track scratching, licking, drinking, eating, sleeping, and activity, providing a comprehensive view of your dog's daily habits.
Health Monitoring Pee Pads – These are pee pads that change color based on the pH levels of your dog's urine, offering a simple way to monitor their health.
Why These 3 Made My Top Picks
After weeks of testing, chasing dogs around the backyard, and getting more data notifications than a stock trader, these are the three pet health monitors that really earned their kibble:
This one came across as the best overall health monitor during my time with it.
If Tony Stark made a health collar for pets, this would be it.
The PetPace Smart Collar monitored my pet's vitals in real time; we’re talking heart rate, respiration, activity levels, body position, sleep quality, and stress. Yes, stress! It’s basically a Fitbit meets a medical-grade monitor, but for your pet. I couldn't help but marvel at this.
Why I picked it
As someone who constantly wonders, “Is my dog just tired, or is something wrong?”, this collar gave me peace of mind. The app delivered detailed reports and health trends, and at one point, it sent alerts when something was off. One day, it flagged unusually low activity and elevated heart rate, and sure enough, my dog was coming down with a mild illness. The early heads-up was priceless.
Here's the truth, friends, it works for both dogs and cats (though your cat may judge you for trying).
Don’t let the sleek look fool you—this thing is powerful.
The Whistle Go Explore comes combining GPS tracking with monitoring health behavior, which includes excessive licking, scratching, or any changes in sleep. The GPS is super accurate (it saved me a panicked 20-minute search when my dog slipped the gate), and it doubles as a fitness tracker.
Why I picked it
I figure it as perfect for pet parents who want both safety and health details for pets rolled up into one. While not as medical-grade as PetPace, it tracks enough behaviors to catch potential problems, like allergies or anxiety before they can get worse.
Plus, the battery lasts over a week (thank you, tech gods).
The good news is that it has a built-in night light, so your dog can finally be the flashlight they were born to be.
3. FitBark 2
This one not only emerged as the top 3, but also Best Budget-Friendly Tracker.
Think of the FitBark 2 as the "starter kit" to pet health tracking. Beginners would love this.
Fear not—it’s not going to replace your vet, but it sure does a solid job in monitoring activity, sleep, distance, and calorie burn. One more trick up its sleeve is its ability to sync with your phone and even integrates with your own Fitbit or Apple Health if you’re a “matchy-matchy” kind of fitness buddy.
Why I picked it
There's much here, but the top points are that it’s lightweight, affordable, and shockingly detailed for the price. I found it especially helpful for keeping my older dog on a steady routine. You won’t get heart rate or respiratory tracking, but for everyday details, it absolutely delivers.
One more last goodie... It’s waterproof. Ask me how I know (spoiler: it involved mud and a very proud dog).
Why The Other 4 Didn't Make The Cut
These next four monitors weren’t bad, but in the competitive world of pet tech, “pretty good” doesn’t always make the cut. So here’s why they didn’t make my final top three:
This one *almost had it all: health tracking, GPS, respiration, and heart rate. But during testing, I ran into connectivity issues more often than I’d like. One sync took so long, I half expected a dial-up modem to kick in. Plus, the battery life didn’t hold up compared to others. It’s promising, but it felt a little too beta version for my liking.
Technically accurate? Absolutely. User-friendly? It didn't quite crack this. This device is a clinical-style gem meant more for veterinary offices than your living room. It requires stillness, which—as any pet owner knows—is not something dogs or cats are known for. My dog saw it coming and immediately gave me the "Not today, human" look.
This one is basically the Whistle Go Explore’s little sibling, but without GPS. It tracks health behaviors well, but if your pet slips out the door, you'll be stuck refreshing the app and hoping. For indoor-only pets, it’s fine, but I just couldn't justify recommending it over its big brother.
Okay, I wanted to love these. A pee pad that changes color based on your dog’s health? Genius! But in reality, the color changes were a little ambiguous, and trying to decipher what “light orange vs. medium orange” means made me feel like I was prepping for an art school exam. Cool concept, but it’s not reliable enough as a primary monitor.
My Final Verdict:
We go back a long way with pet health, I must observe. Pet health monitors can’t replace a vet, but the good ones will make you feel a whole lot closer to understanding your pet. If you’re serious about health insights, PetPace is the gold standard. If you want a mix of safety and smarts Whistle Go Explore nails it. Or perhaps you just want a solid start without breaking the bank. FitBark 2 is a winner.
At the end of the day, friends, any tool that helps us tune into our pets better is worth exploring. Just don’t be surprised if your dog starts tracking you next. Ha!
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