Monday, April 30, 2007

Doggie Mood "Ring" Paw Patch

Don't expect to see it in pet stores in the U.S. anytime soon, but in Japan it may be the next pet rock. Dogs are very expensive in Japan and their owners are extravagant in their purchases the for pets' well-being, including taking cats and dogs to specialist masseurs and even acupuncturists. Now, if they are concerned about their pet's stress levels, they just need to stick a special patch on the bottom of its paw to tell.
The patch, developed by Japanese company Medical Life Care Giken, purports to measure the stress level of dogs and cats by detecting excessive sweat secretion, believed to be a sign of stress, the Nikkei Weekly reported Sunday. The round, pin-sized patch is applied to the center pad of the animal's paw and changes color depending on how sweaty the pet is, the Nikkei said.
The company expects strong sales amid a pet boom in Japan, the Nikkei said. The patches are expected to go on sale in Japan later this year, with the price still undecided, it said. It did not mention plans for overseas sales.
The craze for dogs in Japan does lead to the possibility of scams, as reported in the article: Japanese Poodle is Sheepish.

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