In a bold step forward for pet health technology, Laica, a woman-owned startup founded by veterinarian and serial entrepreneur Elisa Reyna Santos, is set to launch its flagship product: Smart Monitoring IoT Device. It is a sleek, AI-powered device designed to monitor the pet's health and habits even before they show any visible signs of illness.
Currently developed specifically for dogs over 4 kg (approximately 9 pounds), the Laica device tracks key biometric and behavioral data in real-time. Using advanced sensors and intelligent pattern recognition, the device detects subtle deviations in a pet's activity level, sleep quality, and even sounds such as coughing or excessive licking. These signs, often invisible to the human eye, are crucial indicators of health issues long before symptoms become critical.
"Veterinary care is still overwhelmingly reactive," said Elisa. "By the time most pets show signs of illness, it's often too late to intervene effectively. As a veterinarian, I've seen too many cases where earlier detection could have saved a pet's life. Laica is my answer to that."
Elisa, who has launched seven businesses and holds an MBA in addition to her veterinary credentials, created Laica at the intersection of two passions: animal health and artificial intelligence. Her husband, an AI specialist, inspired her to merge her veterinary experience with emerging technologies.
"Pets can't tell us what's wrong. But now, with Laica, we don't have to wait until it's obvious," Elisa explained. "This device learns what's normal for your pet. If your dog usually jumps on the couch 20 times a day and suddenly turns 19, then 18, then 17, the owner may only notice when it stops completely, but the device will flag it from the beginning of that cycle. That drop might signal arthritis or many other pathologies. As they cannot speak for themselves, we must find a way to understand them better, and that's exactly what Laica is doing."
The lightweight device (currently 40 grams) is designed for everyday wear and works for up to five days on a single charge, depending on the animal's activity level. It connects via Bluetooth to a companion app that syncs data to the cloud for continuous monitoring. Pet parents receive real-time alerts and can share the data with their veterinarian to assist with diagnosis and treatment.
The initial rollout of the Laica Smart Monitoring IoT Device will be available for dogs above the 4 kg threshold. However, Laica's R&D team is already hard at work refining the device for smaller pets, including cats, who are notoriously adept at masking pain and illness. "Cats, especially, are experts at hiding symptoms," said Elisa. "When you notice the signs that your cat is ill, it's usually very, very sick. Our goal is to change that."
With functionality already trained to detect 11 key behaviors, ranging from scratching and shaking to vomiting and lethargy, Laica offers peace of mind to owners, actionable insights for vets, and a future where pets don't suffer in silence.
Laica made its debut recently at a major pet trade show in Bologna, Italy, and the response from veterinary professionals and pet tech investors has been enthusiastic. The device is now in commercial deployment across Spain with international expansion on the horizon.
In Elisa's words, "Pets are family. And they deserve to be heard, even when they can't speak."
