veterinarian watching patient with VETGuardian monitor

The VETGuardian® Revolution: How Remote Patient Monitoring is Transforming Veterinary Care

Imagine being able to monitor your critical patients’ vital signs from home, or having the ability to intervene quickly when a post-surgical complication arises – all without disturbing the animal. This is the reality that remote patient monitoring systems like the VETGuardian® zero-touch remote monitor are bringing to veterinary practices. Spurred on by the rise of telehealth during the Covid pandemic, innovations are transforming veterinary care, with technologies like remote patient monitoring systems leading the charge.

The Challenge of Continuous Monitoring in Veterinary Care

Traditionally, monitoring hospitalized patients has required frequent hands-on checks, disturbing animals and potentially increasing their stress levels. This challenge has long been a concern for veterinarians seeking to provide optimal care while minimizing patient discomfort.

VETGuardian: A Zero-Touch Solution

The VETGuardian touchless platform provides a revolutionary approach to patient care, ensuring pets are continuously monitored from admission to discharge. Using unique doppler radar technology, VETGuardian detects vital signs such as temperature, pulse, and respiration without wires or wearables.

Dr. Courtney Campbell DVM, DACVS-SA explains, “It works similar to a radar gun while driving. It also has an alarm that alerts veterinary technicians if those vitals are outside of a preset or customizable range.”

To use VETGuardian, simply mount the device to the patient’s kennel or an IV pole within five feet of the patient, press start, and begin monitoring.

Real-Time Data for Informed Decision Making

One of VETGuardian’s key advantages is its ability to provide vital sign data and live video feed on any internet-connected smart device. This allows veterinarians to access patient information anytime, anywhere, enabling timely interventions and proactive care.

Dr. Dan Danner DVM of Danner Veterinary Hospital shares, “VETGuardian has completely revolutionized the way we care for and protect the safety of our family pets. I have complete peace of mind to go home knowing that our patients are monitored 24/7 and are totally safe.”

Improving Practice Efficiency and Revenue

Beyond enhancing patient care, VETGuardian offers significant benefits for clinic efficiency and revenue generation:

  • Estimated time saved: Up to 2 hours per day per hospitalized patient
  • Increased overnight monitoring capabilities without additional staffing
  • Potential for higher fees for intensive care services

Technicians can multitask more effectively, knowing VETGuardian is monitoring post-surgical or ICU patients. The system’s infrared camera allows for monitoring even in low-light conditions.

"VETGuardian has completely revolutionized the way we care for and protect the safety of our family pets. I have complete peace of mind to go home knowing that our patients are monitoring 24/7 and are totally safe."

Enhancing Patient Comfort and Recovery

VETGuardian addresses both technological advancement and animal emotional well-being. Dr. Adam Christman DVM, MBA explains, “When pets are stressed, their pain sensations are heightened due to the release of stress hormones. Chronic stress can reduce endorphins, healing, and immune system responses.”

By providing continuous, non-invasive monitoring, VETGuardian creates a more relaxed environment supporting faster recovery and better health outcomes.

Case Study: Remote Monitoring in Action

Dr. Liz Millman DVM of PAC Veterinary Mobile Services shares her experience: “Covering a vast geographic area, the ability to monitor patients while on-the-go or treating clients in remote locations has been invaluable. In one instance, we were able to detect early signs of post-operative complications in a dog recovering from GDV surgery, allowing for prompt intervention despite being miles away from the clinic. VETGuardian has not only streamlined our operations but also has provided a crucial lifeline for ensuring optimal care in diverse and dynamic settings.”

VETGuardian Versus Traditional Monitoring Methods

Implementation and Training with VETGuardian

Implementing VETGuardian in your practice is straightforward. The system comes with a user-friendly interface and requires minimal training. Most practices report their staff becoming proficient with the system within a day.

Innovations on the Horizon

We’re continuously improving VETGuardian. Upcoming features include AI-powered predictive analytics to help identify potential health issues before they become critical, and integration with popular practice management software for seamless workflow.

The Future of Veterinary Monitoring

As the veterinary industry continues to embrace technological advancements, remote monitoring systems like VETGuardian are set to play an essential role in veterinary care. By providing continuous vital sign monitoring, seamless integration, and enhanced clinic efficiency, VETGuardian is revolutionizing patient care and practice management.

Ready to revolutionize patient monitoring in your practice? Schedule a VETGuardian demo today and see how it can transform your patient care and practice efficiency.

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Revolutionizing Feline Thyroid Care: The Importance of the TRUFORMA® Exclusive TSH Test for Cats

Hyperthyroidism in cats can be one of the simpler diagnoses made by veterinarians. When a geriatric cat is showing signs of weight loss, increased appetite, and hyperactivity, the veterinarian simply needs to test for elevated T4 levels to confirm that the patient is hyperthyroid. But what happens when the disease is not as straightforward?  

Understanding Feline Hyperthyroidism

It is common for older cats to have concurrent illnesses such as renal disease, cancer, or enteropathy. Non-thyroidal illness can also artificially decrease T4 levels. In fact, 10% of hyperthyroid cats and more than 30% of cats with early thyroid disease will have a normal T4.  In these cases, further diagnostics should be performed to obtain a definitive diagnosis. 

The Role of TSH in Thyroid Diagnostics

TSH is the most utilized hormone for diagnosis of thyroid disease in humans but is not as widely performed in veterinary medicine. However, this hormone can give us a lot of information about the status of thyroid function. Due to the negative feedback mechanism of the body, decreased concentrations of TSH indicate that there is an excess of circulating thyroid hormone. Theoretically, TSH could be a great confirmatory test for hyperthyroidism in cats, because it allows us to look at the function of the feedback loop. Historically, the only option for testing TSH has been a chemiluminescent canine assay that can only measure TSH values as low as 0.03 ng/mL. Studies have shown that while cats with undetectable TSH are more likely to be diagnosed as hyperthyroid within a couple years, there are some normal cats with TSH levels lower than 0.03 ng/mL. Therefore, current TSH testing lacks some specificity for diagnosing the disease.

Cat watching vet

Feline-Optimized TSH Enhances Patient Care

The TRUFORMA In-Clinic Biosensor Testing Platform offers the first and only feline-optimized TSH, changing how we can diagnose and monitor thyroid disease in cats. Using Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) technology, TRUFORMA’s feline optimized TSH assay achieves a lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) far below the chemiluminescent assay, at 0.008 ng/mL. This makes TRUFORMA’s assaymore sensitive and specific for diagnosis of hyperthyroidism and thus allows veterinarians to better distinguish between normal cats and hyperthyroid cats. In cats with borderline elevated or high-normal T4 levels due to non-thyroidal illness or early disease, feline-optimized TSH is an excellent confirmatory test. 

Validating TRUFORMA's Feline-Optimized TSH Assay

A 2024 study performed by Dr. Mark Peterson, a leading veterinary endocrinology specialist, validates and compares the TRUFORMA feline-optimized TSH assay to the traditional chemiluminescent method used at reference laboratories. It found that because of the very low values that the TRUFORMA assay can detect, veterinarians can diagnose hyperthyroidism earlier in the disease process as well as in cases of subclinical disease. This can lead to the patient receiving treatment sooner, before much of the damage to other body systems occurs. 

Screening and Early Detection

TRUFORMA’s feline-optimized TSH assay can also be used as a routine screening test for geriatric felines, the same way we often screen for T4 in these patients. One study found that TSH levels less than 0.03 ng/ml were associated with an increased likelihood of hyperthyroid diagnosis within 14 months. This suggests the assay can be used as a biomarker to determine future risk of disease. 

Monitoring Hyperthyroidism Using Feline-Optimized TSH

Screening for and definitively diagnosing hyperthyroidism are not the only utilizations of the TRUFORMA TSH assay. Cats undergoing treatment for hyperthyroidism are at risk of developing iatrogenic hypothyroidism, which can cause a decline in renal function. An elevated TSH in these patients indicates that circulating thyroid hormone levels are too low, and a dosage adjustment or hormone supplementation is needed. 

Treating Hyperthyroidism Using Feline-Optimized TSH and Radioactive Iodine

It has also been suggested that TSH testing should be performed prior to administration of radioactive iodine as a treatment for hyperthyroidism. TSH levels greater than 0.03 ng/ml can indicate that the patient is more at risk of developing iatrogenic hypothyroidism after I131 therapy. It is recommended to wait to treat these patients until TSH levels have decreased below 0.03 ng/ml. If that is not possible, they should receive a lower dose of I131.

The Future is Bright with TRUFORMA’s Feline-Optimized TSH Assay

Every veterinarian has heard the adage “cats are not small dogs”. Having access to TRUFORMA’s feline-optimized TSH assay gives vets a better way to screen, diagnose, and monitor cats with hyperthyroidism – the most common endocrinopathy of the feline population. By diagnosing these patients sooner and being able to monitor their therapy closer, we can improve the quality of life for cats and their owners.