Question 1

Why Pointer?

Accepted Answer

Your dog can't tell you when something's wrong, and by the time signs show up, it's often too late. Most serious conditions, like kidney disease, develop quietly for years while everything looks fine on the outside. Pointer changes that. Built by veterinary scientists using health data from millions of dogs, Pointer looks at your dog's breed, age, history, and lifestyle to show you what they're actually at risk for and exactly what to do about it, all before it becomes a problem. You'll see your dog's personalized health picture in plain language: the early signs to watch for, the questions to ask your vet, and the simple steps, like a blood panel at the right age, that catch things early when they're easiest to treat. You walk into every visit knowing what matters for your dog. It comes to you at no cost through your veterinary hospital, and it works with your care team, not around them, so you and your vet are looking at the same map. Because the difference between catching something at stage one and stage three isn't luck. It's knowing when and where to look.

Question 2

How does Pointer know what my dog is at risk for?

Accepted Answer

Pointer uses your dog's medical record from your own veterinary hospital, plus breed, age, lifestyle, and environment, evaluated against and compared to health patterns from millions of dogs.

Question 3

Is this a diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

No. Pointer shows what your dog may be at risk for. Your veterinary team always makes the diagnosis and treatment decisions; Pointer makes sure you're having the right conversations at the right time.

Question 4

What conditions does Pointer cover?

Accepted Answer

Pointer currently assesses risk for dozens of health conditions, from endocrine to oncological to parasitic to dermatological. The list keeps growing.

Question 5

Is Pointer available for other species?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. We'd rather be excellent for dogs than mediocre for everyone. More species are coming.

Question 6

How accurate is Pointer?

Accepted Answer

Pointer's predictions were independently evaluated by an outside firm on real clinical data from over 18,000 dogs, with results available here. Validation is ongoing, including studies planned for peer-reviewed publication.

Question 7

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Nothing. Pointer is provided free through partner veterinary hospitals.

Question 8

How can I get Pointer for my dog?

Accepted Answer

If your veterinary hospital partners with Pointer Health, you'll receive a link to your dog's profile with your scheduled wellness visit. If your veterinary hospital does not yet offer Pointer, fill in their information here and we will reach out to them directly.

Question 9

Why partner with Pointer?

Accepted Answer

Pointer identifies each patient's individualized disease risk before clinical signs appear. This supports earlier intervention and better clinical outcomes.

Question 10

How does Pointer work?

Accepted Answer

Recommendations are generated through statistical causal modeling and pattern recognition across millions of health records. Each risk profile draws 850 data points from your practice management software (diagnostic history, health history, signalment, lifestyle, and environment) to run through a proprietary health map linking conditions, drivers, and interventions.

Question 11

How is accuracy ensured?

Accepted Answer

Pointer's predictive accuracy was independently evaluated by an outside firm on real clinical data from over 18,000 dogs, with results well above comparable veterinary and human models. You can see the results here. Further validation studies are ongoing, including peer-reviewed publication.

Question 12

Does Pointer replace clinical judgment?

Accepted Answer

No. Pointer never diagnoses, and every recommendation a pet owner will see is designed to lead back to a conversation with your team.

Question 13

How do we become a Pointer practice?

Accepted Answer

Share more about your practice so Pointer Health can provide a personalized experience from day one.

Question 14

How does Pointer handle patient privacy?

Accepted Answer

All data is anonymized and encrypted. Only non-traceable data is retained for improving our models and helping more dogs.

Question 15

How far ahead does Pointer predict conditions?

Accepted Answer

Predictions span the entire lifespan of the patient. However, the more historical data available, the better the accuracy.

Question 16

How do I apply for an account?

Accepted Answer

Click "Create Account" below or visit app.pointerhealth.com/register. Our team will review your application within 1-2 business days.

Frequently Asked Questions