AI and Pain Recognition
Machine learning algorithms are helping veterinarians and pet owners better evaluate pain in cats.
Detecting, much less diagnosing, pain in cats has vexed veterinarians and pet owners for years.
But thanks to AI technology, there’s now an app for that.
Sylvester’s platform Tably uses AI to analyze cats’ facial expressions and provide real-time assessments of their comfort levels. The AI model assesses a photo against validated veterinary pain scales. According to its developers, the model has assessed hundreds of thousands of photos with over 85% precision. It utilizes proprietary machine learning algorithms to empower cat parents and veterinarians to make more informed decisions about their cat’s health and well-being.
An accurate, less subjective visual pain scale for cats is a major advancement in veterinary care because it addresses the challenge of understanding when a cat may need more care, who expertly disguise discomfort, said Susan Groeneveld, Sylvester Founder and CEO.
“Applying AI allows veterinarians to evaluate pain more precisely, leading to better pain management and improved quality of life for the cat,” she said. “It enables pet caregivers to detect pain in the home and also ensures that the cat is healing well after a veterinary procedure. Additionally, it increases compliance and improves peace of mind with cat owners leading to greater satisfaction with the health care journey for their cat.”
Sylvester.ai’s technology uses visual recognition to measure pain based on a cat’s facial expressions, which helps in making more accurate diagnoses. This technology allows for continuous monitoring of acute pain levels, making it easier for veterinarians to adjust treatments as needed. It also improves communication with pet owners by providing a clear assessment backed by science about their cat’s condition and treatment plan in partnership with a veterinarian; leading to higher satisfaction with the cat health journey and increasing compliance. It also serves as a useful tool for remote patient monitoring and pet owner peace of mind.
“Pet owners have found the technology very helpful,” Groeneveld said. “It gives them a clearer understanding of how their cat is feeling at any moment in time, which helps them make better decisions about their pet’s care. They can also monitor and manage their cat’s discomfort more effectively at home, leading to faster action when needed. Overall, it provides peace of mind by offering clear evidence of their cat’s progress and increasing their confidence in the veterinarian’s treatment plan.”
Beyond pain assessment, Groeneveld said Sylvester.ai’s technology can be used for several other purposes in veterinary care. It can help monitor behavioral changes in cats, track recovery progress after surgery or injury, and identify other health issues based on visual expressions. Prominent use cases today include senior care and supporting end of life decision making.
AI adoption
There are a few challenges to adopting AI in veterinary medicine, but it’s mostly overcoming the status quo and resistance to change, Groeneveld said. Integrating AI requires staff training and adjustments to existing workflows. There are also concerns about data privacy and potential resistance from practitioners who are used to traditional methods. Ease of use is a primary advantage of sylvester.ai technology and can be easily adopted through the use of a smart phone both in the clinic and at home.
To effectively adopt AI, Groeneveld recommended veterinary practices implement a small pilot program to test the technology and align with primary business drivers in the clinic. “It’s important to invest in comprehensive training and support for staff,” she said. Regularly evaluating the technology’s benefits, such as improvements in care quality and client satisfaction, are table stakes for adopting the use of any new tool to support greater efficiency. Engaging all stakeholders, including staff and pet owners, helps address their concerns and needs.
Finally, ensuring that the technology complies with data security and privacy regulations is crucial. “By addressing these factors, veterinary practices can successfully integrate AI technology to enhance their services and improve patient care.”
Translating pet pain signals
In June 2023, Sylvester.ai and AskVet announced a long-term planned partnership to translate pet pain signals into meaningful care options. As part of the partnership, AskVet will use Sylvester.ai’s visual pain assessment and monitoring tools to enhance pet health. At the same time, having access to AskVet’s AI-driven wellness management platform will allow Sylvester.ai to add more value to their customers, according to a release. “Pain recognition is a powerful tool for pet parents; working with AskVet allows us to help a significant number of cats and their caregivers. And this is just the beginning. In the future, we envision a world where visual assessment may help prevent, detect, and monitor illnesses in pets,” said Groeneveld.
