12/09/2025
Something to think about for my dog owner friends! I recently have been seeing ads for the Fi "Smart Collars" for dogs....they track GPS, health stats, can make alerts for health, emergencies and track daily patterns and abnormalities etc which all sound amazing.
However, as I caught myself browsing for my own Christmas present 🤫 I begin wondering what the long term effects of my dog having a "smart device" around their throat, directly over some major organs and body systems, might be?
My gut was right and I will NOT be ordering a smart collar for any of my dogs for Christmas this year. My needs may change in the future (and I'm also referring to the smart collars designed for round the clock usage and not trackers worn on a hike then removed).
"A dog smart collar is a tech-enabled device that attaches to your dog's collar to provide real-time data on their location, activity, and health, offering insights via a smartphone app for safety, wellness monitoring, and training reinforcement, much like a smartwatch for humans. They communicate using EMF (Electromagnetic Fields) Which refers to invisible energy waves from electrical devices, power lines, Wi-Fi, and cell phones, created by electric and magnetic forces.
Some studies indicate that certain animals exposed to high levels of EMFs experience behavioral changes, increased stress responses, and even physiological changes like increased body weight or metabolic changes. It is generally assumed that safety limits established for humans also protect the environment and animals; however, these limits often apply only where humans are regularly present, leaving wildlife in areas near strong transmitters potentially exposed to higher levels.
People will have varying opinions when it comes to EMF effects in animals, I would assume...but a quick trip to Google led me to numerous articles regarding how frequent EMF has negative effects on our dogs (and all species of the earth variety, really) including....
"A recent study looked at the potential health risks of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on pets. Research focused on exposure from tracking devices, household electronics that emit signals (like Wi-Fi routers), and environmental sources such as cell towers. While researchers determined overall RF-EMF exposure levels for pets were below the safety limits set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), they recommended reducing exposure. Especially in young or smaller pets whose bodies absorb more radiation, researchers advised pet owners to be cautious about exposure time and wireless device proximity for pets.
❌Potential Effects on Cellular Health
Recent animal studies suggest increased oxidative stress was caused by exposure to RF-EMF. Just like in humans, oxidative stress can disrupt normal cellular function in pets. Often generated by environmental stressors, oxidative stress contributes to increased ROS (reactive oxygen species) production, causing an imbalance that can lead to cell damage.
❌Link to Cancer Risk in Pets
While extensive research on EMF effects on humans is ongoing, studies on animals provide important insights. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified radiofrequency EMFs as "possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B)," based partly on evidence from animal studies.
A case study was conducted to determine whether residential exposure to electromagnetic fields could increase the risk for canine lymphoma in pet dogs. This study found that dogs who lived in homes with higher EMF exposure had the highest risk with an odds ratio of 6.8, whereas dogs living in homes with lower exposure had an odds ratio of 1.5-1.9. This points to a potential link between EMF exposure and canine lymphoma, but more research is needed to further understand this connection.
❌Behavioral Changes
Over the years, research has shown that EMFs can interfere with normal animal behavior. Previous studies have shown that EMFs can interfere with some animals’ natural navigation abilities, such as birds who rely on the Earth’s magnetic field to help with migration. Observations of tracking dogs revealed they were unable to track beneath high-voltage power lines. Animal studies have also shown EMF exposure led to anxiety symptoms in certain mammals."
All of that being said I am fully aware that the smart collars on the market such as the Fi Smart Collar have followed all guidelines for this protection and have the same radiation risks as cellular phones or smart watches so at the end of the day, your dog and your decision.
‼️Please just consider that most (hopefully all Lol) people using devices such as cellphones or smart watches don't have them strapped directly over or right next to their thyroid 24/7 and that's where my concern is long term! 😬 (We are also not anywhere near as sensitive to these EMF waves as animals are!)
Just something to think about before you buy and put it on your dog to wear daily! 🐾
Sources -
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8038719/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7840113/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9732734/ #:~:text=Radiofrequency%20radiation%20(82)%20and%20oscillating,on%20plant%20growth%20(66).
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/electromagnetic-fields-affect-dogs-olfactory-system-persons-gl-potts/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S019701861830634X
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-electromagnetic-fields
