From the moment we unboxed the Maven monitor, we were impressed by its simplicity. The setup process was incredibly easy and intuitive. Within minutes, we had the device configured and ready to start monitoring Clover. What's even more remarkable is how seamlessly the system handles updates. Throughout our testing period, Maven rolled out new functionalities, like heart rate monitoring, without any hassle. These updates appeared effortlessly, enhancing the device's capabilities and proving Maven's commitment to continuous improvement.
The core strength of the Maven monitor lies in its ability to track various physical signs, offering a comprehensive overview of your pet's health. It meticulously monitors activity levels, sleep patterns, heart rate, and even subtle indicators like head shaking and drinking habits. This continuous monitoring proved to be incredibly valuable for Clover.
Two health issues were detected in the past 5 months since she has been wearing the monitor. One required a veterinary visit; the other was handled at home. See below for what Maven detected.
The Maven app provides clear and concise data visualizations and alerts that help you understand your pet's daily routines and health trends.
Even something as simple as drinking water is monitored, giving you a complete picture of your pet's daily habits. If your pet’s drinking begins to increase a lot over time (with a corresponding increase in peeing and possible peeing accidents), then it’s time to see your veterinarian to assess many things, such as blood sugar or protein in the urine, as your pet could have diabetes or kidney disease. Catching and treating conditions like these early is incredibly important!
Clover's increased drinking was coupled with a disruptive sleep pattern. With these indicators, we caught a potentially dangerous condition early. See what we detected in the next section.
The monitor tracks sleep duration and quality, giving you insights into your pet's rest. For instance, we could see Clover's sleep patterns over the course of a week that deviated from her normal, allowing us to notice something was off.
Her disruptive sleep pattern and extra drinking (plus some vomiting shortly after eating) gave us cause for concern. She was otherwise lively and still eager to eat. However, we booked an appointment with our veterinarian because the vomiting, excessive drinking, and sleep disruption were going past the 2-day mark. Pain is a very common contributor to bad sleep, and she was definitely uncomfortable. The veterinarian took some X-rays and determined she had mild gastroenteritis. She was given IV fluids at the vet's office for her dehydration, and a bland diet solved the issue within a day.
On a side note, there appears to be a minor glitch in the Sunday recorded value of sleep for each week’s report. There must be a cut-off set when it gathers its data. An easy fix that we're sure Maven will get resolved.
Another perfect example of Maven's impact came when we noticed a slight increase in Clover's head shaking over a few days, as flagged by the monitor. At first, while it wasn't severe enough to immediately raise alarm bells in the daily observations, Maven's consistent data highlighted a deviation from her norm. After the third day, Maven asked more questions about her behavior and the condition of her ears. It was then flagged as more urgent. These alerts initially prompted a check of her ears more closely, and sure enough, they were bothering her.
Thanks to Maven, this issue was addressed early before it became a full-blown ear infection. It led to prompt at-home treatment and prevented a minor irritation from escalating into a more serious problem that required a vet visit. Without the monitor's objective data, her occasional head shake might have been dismissed, delaying preventive care and possibly requiring going to an emergency facility for care. Ear issues are SO common with dogs! It's the number one reason dogs visit the vet.
A few days later, after regular flushing and cleaning of her ears, we got this notice.
Understanding your pet's activity levels is crucial for managing their weight, mental well-being, and overall fitness. Maven provides a detailed breakdown of daily and weekly physical activity, helping you ensure your pet is getting enough exercise.
The % of daily achievement can be a little misleading. It is primarily based on your answer to the question “Which of the following options most resembles your pet’s usual daily activity?”
And then you select an answer (6 choices) ranging from “Highly active” through to “No walks, low activity,” and the software does its calculations based on that (among other things). On the human side of activity monitors, we’re more used to the notion of “# of steps” or “distance travelled.” This isn’t the case here. So, if you wonder why your pet isn’t reaching their daily goal, you may want to revisit your selection in this setting or give them more activity and enrichment.
Another interesting observation was that Clover sometimes exceeds her activity level. This has happened on days that she actually didn’t get that much activity (it was hot outside). Her panting must have been interpreted as heavy breathing due to exercise instead of trying to cool herself, but this is a pretty simple thing to ascertain.
While Clover's heart rate never got to a level for concern, having this feature (which was added during our evaluation period) is invaluable for catching heart rate deviations that could indicate serious issues such as pain, fever, or heart or respiratory disorders.
While the Maven monitor is beneficial for ALL pet owners, it's particularly invaluable for two groups:
The Maven pet health monitor has truly exceeded our expectations. Its ease of use, seamless updates, and powerful monitoring capabilities make it an indispensable tool for any pet parent. The ability to catch health issues early, as demonstrated with Clover's gastroenteritis and ear irritation, can make a significant difference in your pet's quality of life and potentially save on costly medical bills.
The current state of this type of technology has matured to the point where it is monitoring “enough things” to be worth the financial expenditure right now. Over time, as they continue to add new things they’ll be able to monitor, the value will only increase. If you're looking for a reliable, insightful, and user-friendly way to keep tabs on your beloved companion's health, the Maven pet health monitor is a great option. It's an investment in their well-being that truly pays off.
