An overview of the challenges and opportunities of the Internet of Things in veterinary medicine and the impact on life sciences

The rapid advancement of science and technology has profoundly influenced veterinary medicine, introducing innovative approaches to address complex challenges in animal healthcare. Among emerging technologies, the Internet of Things (IoT) has demonstrated significant potential to transform veterinary practices by enabling real-time data collection, analysis, and decision-making. This paper explores the opportunities and challenges associated with the Internet of Veterinary Medical Things (IoVMT), a novel model that integrates wearable devices, sensors, cloud platforms, and advanced analytics to enhance animal health management and contribute to the broader transformation of life sciences. The proposed IoVMT framework facilitates continuous monitoring of physiological and behavioral parameters, enabling early disease detection, evidence-based decision-making, and improved welfare outcomes for both livestock and companion animals. Additionally, it promotes collaboration among veterinarians, farm managers, researchers, and pet owners through secure data sharing, supporting predictive modeling and large-scale epidemiological studies. Despite its transformative potential, IoVMT implementation faces technological, logistical, and ethical challenges, including data privacy, cybersecurity, interoperability, infrastructure limitations, and concerns about animal welfare. Addressing these issues requires the development of robust standards, secure communication protocols, and ethical frameworks that prioritize both data integrity and animal well-being. This study highlights the dual role of IoVMT as both an enabler of sustainable veterinary practices and a catalyst for advancing biological sciences. By integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics, future applications can further optimize veterinary care and expand IoVMT adoption across diverse environments. Ultimately, IoVMT represents a critical step toward data-driven, efficient, and sustainable animal healthcare systems that not only improve animal welfare but also contribute to global bioscience innovation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Internet of Veterinary Medical Things (IoVMT) ، Veterinary healthcare ، Animal health monitoring ، Big Data analytics ، Animal welfare