How Acurate is FitBark2?

Hello, Summarians!

As you may have noticed, I tend to gravitate to articles that can provide immediate use to our animal friends. The ability to do this has improved due to the improvement in review/publication times in the periodicals that we have access to.

Those times have shifted from literally years to 3-6 months on average. This allows for the timely use of the information that they contain

Please share this with a friend if you find it useful.

Melanomas and Horses.

Melanocytic tumors are a significant concern in gray horses, with up to 80% of those over 15 years old developing some form of melanoma, largely attributed to a mutation in the STX17 gene. These tumors commonly appear in the perineal area, tail, prepuce, parotid region, and other locations, including internal organs. Equine melanomas are categorized into four types: melanocytic nevi, dermal melanomas, dermal melanomatosis, and anaplastic malignant melanomas, with increasing likelihood of malignancy and metastatic potential. While many equine melanomas initially appear benign and are often left untreated, approximately two-thirds may undergo malignant transformation over time, though this rate is possibly overestimated due to underreporting. 

Surgical treatment for melanomas, particularly in the perianal and perirectal areas, has traditionally been approached with caution due to fears of promoting malignancy. However, recent studies, including this one, demonstrate that complete surgical excision with primary closure is feasible, safe, and associated with low recurrence rates. In contrast to earlier methods that left large open wounds, this technique achieved primary closure in 98% of cases, improved healing outcomes, and preserved normal rectal and anal function. Most surgeries were performed with the horse standing under epidural and local anesthesia, which provided better access and minimized complications. Although some horses experienced side effects from local anesthesia, such as transient collapse, these were self-limiting and manageable. 

Postoperatively, horses may experience pain and difficulty passing feces due to tension on the sutures, requiring manual fecal removal and soft diets to prevent complications. Despite occasional wound dehiscence, all wounds healed successfully with conservative care, often using honey-based ointments. Notably, in some cases where surgical margins were not histologically clear, remaining melanomas regressed postoperatively, potentially due to an immunologic response. 

Only a small number of horses in this study experienced recurrence of tumors, and no evidence supported the belief that surgery triggers malignancy. Many “recurrences” may result from undetected, small melanomas in the surrounding skin. Although histologic confirmation of tumor type was limited, clinical signs and tumor behavior were used to infer outcomes. The study supports the early removal of growing melanomas to reduce the risk of malignancy and associated complications. 

Compared to other treatment modalities like radiotherapy and electrochemotherapy, which are less effective for large tumors and have logistical limitations, surgery remains the most practical and effective option for extensive perianal melanomas. Although diagnostic imaging was not sensitive enough to detect internal metastases reliably, no gross internal involvement was detected. The study emphasizes that equine melanomas generally exhibit slow growth and low metastatic risk compared to melanomas in humans or small animals, further supporting the safety and benefit of surgical intervention. Overall, this report provides a compelling case for early and complete surgical removal of perianal melanomas in gray horses as a means to prevent suffering, improve quality of life, and avoid euthanasia. 

Haegeman, L., Foucaud, M., Joostens, Z., Declercq, J., Vinardell, T., Kadic, D., & Mariën, T. (2025). Surgical technique, outcome, complications, and recurrence rate for removal of extensive perianal melanomas: 50 treated horses. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.12.0816 

Bottom line — Surgical techniques offer some hope.

Real World FitBark 2 Testing

In recent years, accelerometers have become an increasingly valuable tool for objectively measuring physical activity across various species, including dogs. Unlike direct observation, which is time-consuming and resource-intensive, accelerometers offer a noninvasive, quantifiable, and efficient method for capturing data on activity intensity, frequency, and duration. In dogs, accelerometers have been used to monitor conditions like osteoarthritis and allergies, and to quantify behaviors such as maternal care and anxiety. Among the devices available, the FitBark 2 stands out due to its affordability, long battery life, durability, and compatibility with mobile applications. Though initially designed for pet owners, the FitBark 2 has been validated for use in research settings, demonstrating high correlations with other research-grade accelerometers during various activities. 

However, the literature has raised concerns about the impact of leash attachment and device positioning on data accuracy. Previous studies reported lower accuracy when the accelerometer was attached to the same collar as the leash, especially during short controlled walks, leading to potential undersensing of activity. Additionally, most studies recommended ventral placement of the device, based on controlled settings that did not account for collar rotation during real-world walks. 

This study aimed to assess whether leash attachment and device positioning influence FitBark 2 activity measurements under routine at-home conditions. Contrary to earlier findings, the study found no significant differences in activity output between devices mounted on leashed and unleashed collars when placed similarly, suggesting that leash attachment does not meaningfully distort data. Likewise, when no leash was attached, the position of the device on the collar—ventral or dorsolateral—did not affect activity measurements. The only significant difference arose when comparing ventral and dorsolateral devices on the same collar with leash attachment, likely due to mechanical effects of leash pulling, which altered how the device moved or was restricted. Notably, even this discrepancy diminished over longer walks and was considered clinically insignificant. 

The study was conducted in real-world settings without controlling for variables like terrain, leash length, or walk intensity, which mirrors typical owner behavior and adds ecological validity. Despite the inability to access the proprietary algorithm behind BarkPoints, the device’s previous validation against research-grade monitors supports its reliability. Overall, this study concludes that the FitBark 2 provides accurate activity monitoring during leash walks when mounted on a single collar, regardless of position, making it a practical and dependable tool for long-term at-home activity tracking in dogs. 

McCarter, S. J., Werre, S. R., & Balogh, O. (2025). Leash attachment and device position on the collar do not interfere with monitoring dog activity using FitBark 2 triaxial accelerometry during routine walks. American Journal of Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.24.12.0393 

Bottom line — Provides accurate activity monitoring

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative condition in aging dogs that closely resembles human Alzheimer's disease (AD) in both clinical presentation and underlying pathology. Common signs include disorientation, altered social interactions, disrupted sleep-wake cycles, loss of housetraining, anxiety, and changes in activity levels. Despite its high prevalence, particularly in dogs over 13 years of age, CCD remains underdiagnosed, largely due to the absence of objective diagnostic tools and reliable biomarkers. Diagnosis typically relies on behavioral questionnaires, which are subjective and can be confounded by other medical or environmental factors. 

CCD shares numerous pathological features with AD, including β-amyloid (Aβ) plaque accumulation, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, neuroinflammation, and neuronal loss. Both extracellular Aβ plaques and cerebral amyloid angiopathy contribute to vascular dysfunction and neurotoxicity in CCD, although findings about the direct correlation between Aβ burden and clinical signs remain inconsistent. Tau pathology, particularly phosphorylation at specific sites such as Thr181 and Thr217, has been demonstrated in CCD-affected canine brains, mirroring early tau changes seen in AD. Inflammation, driven by activated astrocytes and microglia, is a central feature in both diseases, and dogs with CCD exhibit elevated inflammatory markers. Hippocampal atrophy, another shared feature, correlates with cognitive decline, though overlaps in hippocampal volume between affected and unaffected dogs limit its diagnostic utility. 

Efforts to identify diagnostic biomarkers have yielded mixed results. Plasma and CSF Aβ42 levels show variability across studies, and phosphorylated tau has not consistently served as a reliable marker. However, recent studies suggest that neurofilament light chain in serum may be a promising early biomarker. Therapeutic strategies have targeted multiple aspects of CCD pathogenesis, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. Dietary interventions such as antioxidant-rich supplements, DHA and sphingolipids, and brain protection blends (BPB) have shown cognitive benefits. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) offer an alternative brain energy source, improving cognition, especially when combined with BPB. 

Pharmacologic treatments include selegiline, the only FDA-approved drug for CCD, which shows significant symptom improvement. Other agents such as nicergoline, cholinesterase inhibitors, senolytic therapies, and calcium modulators like apoaequorin and tacrolimus have also shown promise. Novel approaches such as autologous skin-derived neuroprecursor cell therapy and lifestyle modifications, including physical activity, offer additional avenues for managing CCD. Importantly, shared disease mechanisms between CCD and AD suggest that treatments developed for human neurodegenerative conditions may benefit canine patients as well. 

In conclusion, while CCD is increasingly recognized as a significant health concern in geriatric dogs, its diagnosis and treatment remain challenging. Continued research into its pathophysiology, early biomarkers, and therapeutic interventions is essential. Given the strong overlap with Alzheimer's disease, CCD offers a valuable comparative model for advancing understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in both dogs and humans. 

Kim, S. H., & Hao, J. (2025). Recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for canine cognitive dysfunction. American Journal of Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.25.02.0053 

Bottom line — Diagnosis and treatment remain challenging

Just putting things in perspective …