Accuracy and agreement of a wearable device for heart rate and oxygen saturation monitoring in awake dogs

OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluated the accuracy and agreement of heart rate and peripheral oxygen saturation measurements obtained using the Owlet Smart Sock in awake dogs with low activity levels, using a veterinary patient monitor as the reference method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinically healthy dogs underwent simultaneous heart rate and peripheral oxygen saturation measurements with Owlet Smart Sock and a veterinary patient monitor during routine preoperative evaluation. Method comparison was performed using Pearson correlation analysis and Bland-Altman agreement analysis. Clinical equivalence was assessed using the two one-sided tests procedure with predefined equivalence margins of ±10 bpm for heart rate and ±3% for peripheral oxygen saturation. A total of 237 paired measurements were analysed. RESULTS: Heart rate measurements obtained with Owlet Smart Sock showed a strong positive linear relationship between the two methods (r = 0.934, P < .001). Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated a mean bias of -0.46 bpm, with narrow limits of agreement. Two one-sided tests analysis indicated that the mean difference in heart rate measurements lay within the predefined equivalence margin (P < .001). In contrast, peripheral oxygen saturation measurements showed no significant correlation between devices (r = 0.038, P = .562), and Bland-Altman analysis revealed considerable variability at the individual measurement level. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Owlet Smart Sock demonstrated acceptable agreement with the reference monitor for heart rate measurement in awake dogs with low activity levels, whereas peripheral oxygen saturation measurements showed limited agreement and should be interpreted with caution in clinical practice.