A recently-funded device aims to be the world’s first mind reader for pets.

My cat Runa comes when I call her name, responds with a “mew” when I ask if she’s hungry, and always hides under the dining room table when my partner fires up the vacuum.

Although we “communicate” it always makes me sad to realize that my cat and I will never have a conversation. I’m no mind reader, and though I infer many things from her purrs and meows, she’ll never be able to tell me what she’s thinking in a way I can understand. Or will she?

A small Scandinavian research lab called the Nordic Society for Invention and Discovery (NSID) recently unveiled the world’s first mind reader device for pets. Called “No More Woof” the gadget uses the latest in micro computing and electroencephalography (EEG) technology to analyze animal thought patterns. The idea is that when worn on your pet’s head, the mind reader gadget could translate animal thoughts into human language, projecting them through a speaker attached to the pet’s collar.

While two way communication is the ultimate goal, the early No More Woof mind reader will allow our pets to verbalize simple thoughts, like “I’m tired,” “I’m excited,” or “Who are you?” NSID developers say that for now, the mind reader device speaks only English, but Mandarin, French and Spanish versions are coming soon. Likewise, future iterations may include options for different dog voices/personalities, as well as new phrases like “Why are you leaving?” and “Leave me alone.”

Yes, the NSID’s pet mind reader is very much in the conceptual stages, and no there’s no guarantee that it will work. But if I said I wasn’t completely thrilled at the possibility, I’d be lying. Apparently, there are lots of pet owners like me out there, because No More Woof recently blasted through its fundraising $10,000 fundraising goal with 44 days to spare. Although the concept itself is unproven, NSID has a well-documented reputation for developing potentially world-changing technologies (see the iRock, a power-generating rocking chair, and the Nebula 12, a light fixture that can bring outdoor weather into your home or office).

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Image: No More Woof

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Have you ever watched a dog eating and wondered if she was uncomfortable craning her neck to get every last bit of kibble? “Ah, but she’s just a dog,” you might say. “Surely, dogs can handle eating from the floor!” But when I stumbled across These Creatures‘ amazing Designer Hanging Feeders, I had to wonder if my dog deserved a new dining nook.

And yes, dogs are dogs, but some pet experts say that elevated bowls help canines reduce strain to their neck and back muscles and joints. Young nothing-can-stop-’em pups may not need to be pampered with a special ergonomic feeder. Older dogs that struggle with painful arthritis, or bigger dogs that really have to stretch their neck to reach the floor may have a stronger case for beggin’ for a fancy new bowl.

Either way, These Creatures get our vote for an ergonomic elevated feeder. These beautiful made-in-the-USA feeders aren’t propped up on posts or a platform. Instead they hang on the wall. This means that if you don’t mind hanging and re-hanging the bowl a couple of times, you can change the height depending on your dog’s growth, or to accommodate any new furry friends that may join your family in the future. No need to toss the bowl just because it’s not properly sized for your pooch anymore!

The contraptions are made from 12-gauge steel and come with removable stainless steel bowls. You can choose from five different color choices and 46 different breeds from a basenji to a Yorkie, including the French bulldog and pit bull designs shown above. If you don’t see your favorite breed or a doppelgänger for your mutt, stay tuned. These Creatures are currently working on a list of more than 10 additions to its collection.

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In companion animals, severe wounds often result in severe consequences: amputation, infection, sometimes even death. As unbelievable as it sounds, an unexpected savior has emerged.

Medical-grade maggots.

In 2004, the FDA classified sterilized maggots as a medical device – in other words, you can purchase a prescription for fly larvae. Recently maggots have been used to clean human wounds, but veterinary medicine only recently has begun exploring the usage of these little wrigglers.

According to Monarch Labs, a supplier of medicinal maggots, these worm-like insects work wonders on hard-to-heal wounds. The maggots clean infected and dead tissue in a process called “debridement.” They also kill the bacteria while stimulating new tissue growth. Maggots eat dead flesh but avoid live flesh and were used medically in the Middle Ages – but since they weren’t sterilized back then, the results were mixed.

The process involves a veterinarian applying the medicinal maggots to your pet’s wound along with a special dressing that prevents the maggots from squirming away.

According to Monarch, “World-wide, approximately 50,000 treatments were applied to wounds in 2008.” That statistic applies to people, though – veterinarians seem hesitant to adopt the treatment. It might seem creepy at first, but it might also be a safer alternative to antibiotics that have incredibly harsh side effects.

If your dog or cat had a severe wound, would you consider medicinal maggots as a treatment?

Image: aslakr

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Vitamins and supplements are rising in popularity among health-conscious dog owners, due in large part to concerns about the quality of pet food. Of course, manufacturers are jumping on the bandwagon and producing an array of products – from the healthy and practical to the completely absurd. For instance, if you are so inclined, you can now purchase bottled vitamin water for your pampered pooch.

While bottled vitamin water is pretty crazy, there are good supplements on the market that can be used as either preventive care or to manage specific health conditions. Martha Smith is the general manager of i Love Dogs, a company that produces a line of natural vitamins and supplements for dogs. “Vitamins and supplements are a great way to support dogs as they deal with existing issues like hip and joint issues, allergies, nutrient deficiency, and even cancer,” says Martha. “They can also be powerful preventive agents for dogs who are prone to certain illnesses or conditions.” For example, Martha has her German Shepherd Dog (GSD) on glucosamine and chondroitin, which support joints and cartilage, because GSD’s are promote to hip and joint problems.

However, supplements might not be appropriate for all dogs or all conditions. Martha suggests that owners of dogs with unstable health or serious allergies should consult a vet or a holistic canine healthy practitioner.

The positive result of increased interest in pet supplements is that manufacturers are releasing products designed to meet our and our dogs’ needs. For instance, i Love Dogs uses plant- and animal-based ingredients, but they also have a vegan option.

If you’re considering adding a vitamin or supplement to your dog’s diet, here are some things to consider:

• Before starting your dog on anything, schedule a visit with your vet, especially if your dog has a chronic condition you’re trying to manage.
• “With vitamins in particular, pet parents need to pay careful attention to the dosing instructions for their dog’s weight. Some of the minerals and other ingredients in vitamin supplements can be harmful when over-dosed,” says Martha.
• Read labels and ingredient lists as carefully as you would if you were considering the supplement for yourself because, according to Martha, “vitamins and supplements vary widely in terms of formulation, ingredients, country of origin, and recommended dosage.”

Image: gopal1035

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Need another reason to choose quality pet food for your dog or cat? Last week the medical journal Pediatrics published a report warning about salmonella outbreaks in humans, mostly kids, linked to dry pet food. Between 2006 and 2008 a pet food salmonella outbreak sickened 79 people, nearly half of which were kids under two-years-old. You know about washing hands and kitchen surfaces after handling raw chicken, and that turtles can carry the bacteria, but now you have to be careful about pet food, too?

The report’s lead research Casey Barton Behravesh from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that dry dog food is an under-recognized source of human salmonella infections. What’s more, other illnesses could be caused by untainted pet food as well, without us being aware. Kids are likely infected more often by tainted pet food since they’re more likely to be crawling around on the floor near your the feeding area. Unfortunately, salmonella is also most dangerous for small children and babies.

While the chances of falling ill from Fido or Fluffy’s dinner aren’t high, it’s still good to be aware of the issue. Salmonella pet food recalls continue and last month – Iams and Eukanuba both were recalled due to potential salmonella contamination.

The outbreak detailed in the current report resulted from one Pennsylvania pet food plant, and salmonella bacteria was found in several brands of dry dog and cat food. The plant was later shut down. Typically companies are vigilant about keeping bacteria at bay, and most salmonella germs are killed during the heating process in pet food manufacturing. That said, food can become contaminated from flavor enhancers that are sprayed on later.

So what can you do to ensure you, your child and your pets stay healthy and avoid salmonella bacteria? First, look for quality organic and natural pet food brands. Then, follow the advice of the study’s authors.

• Be sure to tell your pediatrician about any pets you have in the home so they can take that into account when your child gets sick.
• Wash your hands after playing with pets or touching pet food or pet bowls. The same goes for after handling pet treats!
• Clean your pet’s bowls and feeding area often. Keep kids under age five away from feeding areas, pet food and pet bowls.
• Have a separate area for cleaning your pet bowls – separate from where you clean your own dishes and separate from where you kids bathe. And you should probably have a separate sponge for cleaning your pet’s stuff, too!
• Avoid bathing babies in your kitchen sink.

Images: shaymus22, Shyn Darkley

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If your dog isn’t a city dweller and is lucky enough to have a backyard, he probably runs around on grass. Because, well, what else would you cover your backyard with, right? Luxury interior design Kari Whitman, owner of Kari Whitman Interiors LLC, has a different idea – ForeverLawn, an eco-friendly synthetic alternative.

So how is faux grass eco-friendly? And why is it better than the real stuff?

According to CafeMom, Whitman says instead of grass, she always uses ForeverLawn, which is made from recycled materials. Not only is it easier to maintain and keep green in comparison to real grass, it holds up to the extra wear and tear dogs bring to the backyard. ForeverLawn’s K9Grass is made specifically for dogs. The faux grass yarn is knitted, which allows for flow-through drainage and it has a antimicrobial agent to prevent stains, odors and bacteria. It’s also completely washable, all of which make it great ground cover for kennels and indoor dog parks.

Dog-lover Kristen Bell is one of Whitman’s celebrity clients that has a ForeverLawn covered backyard. Bell has plenty of eco-friendly habits – she’s a vegetarian, she has partnered with eco companies like TOMS shoes and earlier this month she dedicated her 30th birthday to Charity: Water. Plus, she lets all of her rescued pets run around on faux lawn: Lola and Mr. Shakes came from shelters, while Sadie was a post-hurricane Katrina rescue from New Orleans. That said, she also spoils her pups with an outdoor Moroccan tiled hot and cold water doggie bath.

I’m not exactly convinced that choosing a fake lawn is really a more eco-friendly choice – and my dog Leo (shown above) might argue that there’s nothing like a good roll in the real grass! Though the fact that the lawn requires little maintenance does have some green benefits. In effect it saves water, eliminates the need for fertilizers or pesticides, cuts out the gas and pollution associated with mowing and prevents erosion.

If you’re not ready to makeover your backyard you could try a patch of grass to see how your pooch likes it. Or they even make a K9Grass potty.

What do you think of K9Grass? Smart idea? A bit ridiculous? Or not green enough for your dog? Tell us in the comments below.

Images: gTarded, abfsra

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I’m going to be frank about this. My dog farts – a lot. It’s gross. He stinks. And farting just makes my pup’s already large carbon paw print even worse since flatulence contains the greenhouse gas methane! So I set out on a mission to find natural solutions for his gassy belly. I’ve tried just about everything to help his flatulence issue from altering his diet to feeding him yogurt to special natural remedies. If your dog has digestive issues, too, try some of these natural solutions for dog gas problems.

Diet

Digging into your dog’s diet to find the cause of gas may seem like a no brainer, but the mystery of food and farts can sometimes be hard to solve. Dogs can be allergic to a number of ingredients that may be in his pet food – from soy to sweet potatoes. Or if you pass table scraps on to your pet, you may be contributing to the problem. If you think our pup’s stinky butt may be stemming from digestive issues, talk to your vet about his diet. You may want to try a more limited diet or grain free formula to see if it alleviates the gas. Some owners opt for allergy testing – though pricey, it can help pinpoint the source of your dog’s gas.

Pet Alive Flatulence Preventer

The Flatulence Preventer from natural pet remedy brand Pet Alive promises to reduce gas guild up with an herbal formula. The ingredient list of natural digestive aids and homeopathic remedies may seem foreign, but everything is natural. While this may be a good solution, my picky puppy (who often leaves a bowl of food uneaten for hours) wouldn’t oblige to the recommended dosage. To start you must give your dog a pinch or two of the tiny pellets every 30 minutes for six doses. Then, you must give three doses daily.

Yogurt

Just how yogurt can help balance out human belly troubles with its live and active cultures, it can help your canines digestive issues, too. Add a teaspoon of plain yogurt to your dog’s bowl at each meal.

Weider Pet Health Digestive Wellness

The Digestive Wellness formula combines the probiotics of yogurt with other enzymes and fiber that can help normalize your dog’s digestion including sunflower, flax and ginger. It comes in a powder formula that you add to your dog’s meal once or twice a day.

Alas, my hunt for the perfect doggie Gas-X continues. Does your dog fart? Have you tried any natural remedies that work? Tell us in the comments below.

Image: gadgetbubba

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Dogs are worse for the Earth than SUVs – at least according to the authors of Time to Eat the Dog? The Real Guide to Sustainable Living, Robert and Brenda Vale. So if you’re in the market for a new pet, you might want to stay away from the canine variety. I admit, I probably have no place telling you not to adopt a dog – I have a rather un-earth-friendly purebred. We all commit a few environmental sins, right? But if you don’t have a pooch yet, there are plenty of cute, cuddly, furry and friendly animals that come without the bark and big carbon pawprint. Consider loving one of these low-impact pets instead.

Hamsters

Using the Ecological Footprint Technique, the Vales came up with carbon footprint comparisons for many pets. Owning two hamsters is like owning a plasma television. They only need a small cage and a wheel to run around on. You’ll need to line the bottom of their cage, too, but the ink on old newspapers and magazines can be toxic to hamsters. Instead, look for pet bedding that’s biodegradable and compostable. In addition to pelleted food which comes with the carbon costs of shipping and production, hamsters can eat fruits and vegetables from your garden or kitchen scraps including leafy greens, apples, bananas, green beans, cucumbers and carrots.

Canaries

A captive-bred variety of birds like canaries has a relatively low impact – four of them have the same carbon footprint as two hamsters, or a plasma TV. Birds taken from the wild do adversely affect the local wildlife population though. Canaries and other small birds like parakeets also eat grain, which must be produced, processed and shipped to you. You can help lower a pet bird’s impact by recycling newspapers to line the bottom of their cage.

Goldfish

While a little orange fish swimming around in a bowl might not be as fun as taking a dog for a walk, the Vales say their impact is comparable to two cell phones. Since they don’t require a heater or filter their energy consumption is low. You will need to clean the bowl and change the water about once a week. You’ll use about a gallon of water a week, which is probably less than a pooch consumes. Also, since goldfish food flakes are very lightweight and their daily serving is minimal, you don’t have to factor in much for the cost of shipping and production.

Cats

Felines aren’t without fault either, but instead of causing SUV-sized trouble for the Earth, the New Zealand architecture professors compare cats to Smart Cars. One of the biggest problems with cats is kitty litter. More than eight billion pounds of the non-biodegradable material gets dumped in landfills each year. So if you choose an eco-friendly kitty litter you might be able to reduce your cat’s impact.

However, there’s no getting around the fact that cats’ waste can also carry toxoplasma, a parasite that can cause problems with pregnancy and can even survive through sewage treatment plants to later kill marine life including sea otters.

Images: Vivian Chen, cdrussorusso, greencolander, scary carrie, Paul McGuire

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When I first got my puppy Leo, I had no idea how bad the teething process would be. He wanted to chew constantly – destroying my rug, my kitchen table, his puppy toys, a pair of flip flops, the wall and everything else he could sink his teeth into. And every pet store “teething” solution got demolished in a matter of minutes!

Luckily, I eventually discovered some life-saving DIY teething tricks. If you have a new puppy, try these easy solutions to keep his chewing under control – they’ll help his gums feel better, too!

Frozen Carrots

Whether baby carrots or the full-sized variety, many pups love chewing on this healthy treat. Freeze carrots to make them last longer and feel better on their tender gums.

Ice Cubes

My greatest discovery was emptying a tray of ice cubes onto the floor. Not only was it a game for Leo to chase the slippery sliding cube across the wood floor, but once he did the ice in his mouth I’m sure he loved the soothing feeling as he crunched away. Even though Leo is way beyond teething now, he still loves playing with ice cubes.

Frozen Rag

You can make your own teething chew toy with an old rag or wash cloth. Douse it in water, tie it in a knot and throw it in the freezer overnight. Once it’s frozen hard, give it to your dog. He’ll love chewing it and the game of attempting to untie the knot with his teeth should keep him occupied for awhile. Once it melts and becomes soft again, you can douse it in water again and refreeze.

Images: I Go Splat, SoggyDan

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Just rescued a new puppy from the animal shelter? Now what? If you’re not prepared, your apartment could quickly turn into a disaster with your little furry destroyer running the show. Here are five eco-friendly puppy products that will help keep your new pet happy and save your favorite shoes and carpets from destruction all at the same time.

Planet Dog Orbee Tuff Bone for Pups

As your puppy teethes, she’ll try to sink her teeth into everything and anything she can – from your favorite sandals to your dining room table. My little devil even chewed the molding along our floor! But Planet Dog’s sweet pink and blue bones are a perfect and durable alternative for those sharp puppy teeth. Unlike many phlathate-heavy dog toys, they’re made from non-toxic materials in the U.S.

West Paw Designs Eco Nap

While there are lots of eco-friendly dog beds out there, West Paw Design’s Eco Nap is an easy solution for messy pups. You can throw the entire bed in the washing machine and dryer whenever it gets soiled, which will probably be often!

Earthbath Grooming Wipes Especially for Puppies

With digging in the mud, rolling in the dirt, swimming in the lake and one too many icky accidents you can expect to clean some serious grime off your grubby pup. Since you can’t give him a bath everyday, Earthbath’s Grooming Wipes will prove to be beyond handy. Plus, they’re gentle on your pup as they’re free of parabens, perfumes, phthalates, synthetic dyes and phosphates – and vitamin E and aloe vera will help keep his coat nice and shiny.

Zuke’s Mini Naturals

Sit, stay, shake, down, leave it and take it are all commands your pup should soon learn. Your pup will love doing tricks for Zuke’s tasty soft bites in salmon, chicken or peanut butter flavors. They’re made with good-for-your-dog ingredients without wheat, corn or soy that commonly cause allergic reactions in pets. And since they’re tiny – and only two calories each – you don’t have to worry about many times you’re rewarding your good dog.

The Brampton Company Natural Training Pads

Before you pup is housebroken there’s no getting around accidents in the house, especially if you’re living in an apartment building that requires a long elevator trip down to relief. Wee wee pads are a lifesaver and help your dog learn he has a special spot to do his business, but they’re traditionally incredibly wasteful. These Natural Training Pads are made from natural cellulose fiber from trees, tree pulp and a special biodegradable film. The company promises the 100 percent biodegradable pads will decompose faster than an orange peel.

Now you’ll just need to learn the best green ways to clean up after dog accidents!

Image: elvissa

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