Track Your Pets' Steps With Fitness Tracker

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (CBS) - Now pet owners are able to use technology to get a better overall picture of their animal's health. David Levin uses an activity tracker on his dog, Mark, to keep tabs on his daily exercise.

"Helps me keep him active," Levin said. "Make sure I'm caring for him as much as he cares for me."

Pet owners are increasingly turning to activity trackers to monitor their animal's health. San Francisco based, Whistle, makes one of the market's most popular devices. It attaches to the animal's collar and sends information to the owner's smartphone, like stats on the pet's weight and how much time it's getting outdoors. All that information can then be shared with a veterinarian.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association, most dogs in the United States don't get enough exercise, more than 40-percent are overweight, 25-percent are obese.

"Both dog owners and cat owners are taking their pets to the vet less frequently," said Ben Jacobs, co-founder of Whistle. "The goal with Whistle is to bring that day-to-day awareness about your pet's health and safety to the forefront."

Levin said that his dog's tracker includes a global positioning system.

"I know that if he wanders off, I'm going to be able to find him," Levin explained.

LINK: Whistle Pet Tracker