One new product is using big data to better gauge the seemingly subtle clues that could signal a change in your pet's health.

The $100 device called Whistle, measures whether your dog is resting, walking around — even playing.

This is a boon to people who want to hone in on problems with their pet's health, including behavioral episodes like those associated with anxiety (which are often accompanied by bouts of frenetic activity).

Whistle Labs, a San Francisco startup, recently made the gadget available for purchase.

“Dogs can’t speak for themselves,” said Ben Jacobs, co-founder of the company.

“This could tell you if something is going very wrong.”

Currently available for iPhone, the data, once collected and analyzed, can be taken to the vet to help them get a clearer idea of what's happening, with the goal of diagnosing underlying problems.

As Jacobs notes, this gadget should never be used to self-diagnose a medical problem.

Similar to devices designed for humans like FitBit, Whistle can help track activity goals as well.

An app for Android users is expected to be available later this year.

Watch this video to learn more about Whistle.

Lorrie Shaw leads the pets section for AnnArbor.com. Catch her daily dog walking and pet sitting adventures or email her directly and subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.