If your dog is looking and/or acting stressed out, a Japanese company says it has developed a test to know for sure.
Medical Life Care Giken says it has created a special patch that can be placed on the bottom of the dog’s paw to measure the dog’s stress level by detecting excessive sweat secretion, which is believed to be a sign of stress. The test can be used on dogs as well as cats.
The round, pin-sized patch is applied to the center pad of the dog’s paw and changes color depending on how sweaty the dog is.
The company, which makes a similar patch for humans, says it worked with researchers at Toyama University to study the sweat patterns of dogs and cats, which secrete sweat from their paws, the Japanese publication Nikkei Weekly reported April 29.
The Nikkei also reported that the company expects strong sales amid a pet boom in Japan. The patches are expected to go on sale in the country later this year. The price is still undecided.
There’s no word yet on if the company plans to eventually sell the stress tests in the United States or anywhere else outside of Japan.