Health management systems for small herbivores

Abstract

This system is used to assess the possibility of gastrointestinal stasis in the health management system for small herbivores. [Solution] The small herbivore health management system 1 comprises a cage 2 and a controller. The cage 2 has a hard stool storage container 10. The hard stool storage container 10 has a first sorting tube 11 and a second sorting tube 12 provided on a second guide plate 16. The inner diameter of the first sorting tube 11 is smaller than the inner diameter of the second sorting tube 12. The first sorting tube 11 and the second sorting tube 12 sort the rabbit's hard stool by its outer diameter and distribute it to the first section 13a, the intermediate section 13b, and the second section 13c of the feces tray 13. The first sensor 31, the intermediate sensor 32, and the second sensor 33 measure the amount of feces in each section. From this amount of feces, the presence or absence of hard stool with a small outer diameter can be determined, and the controller determines the possibility of stasis in the rabbit.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a health management system for small herbivores.

Background Art

[0002] In Patent Document 1, in a pet management system, there is provided a water supply tray having a water intake amount acquisition unit that acquires the water intake amount of a pet and generates water intake amount information indicating the water intake amount, a toilet for pets having a urine output amount acquisition unit that acquires the urine output amount of the pet and generates urine output amount information indicating the urine output amount, a health state determination unit that determines the health state of the pet based on the water intake amount information and the urine output amount information and generates health state information indicating the health state of the pet, and a display control unit that receives the health state information and displays the health state of the pet are disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] <00000!16>

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] According to the above prior art, it is possible to judge the possibility of lower urinary tract diseases from the urine output amount, or judge the renal function from the urine specific gravity and protein content. However, there are some diseases of pets that cannot be judged only from urine. For example, rabbit gastrointestinal syndrome (RGIS: Rabbit Gastrointestinal Syndrome) may deteriorate rapidly, so it is necessary to deal with it early on. RGIS is caused by gastrointestinal stasis, but it is difficult to judge the possibility of gastrointestinal stasis only from the urine of rabbits. Similar problems also exist in small herbivores other than rabbits. <\(

[0005] An object of the present invention is to judge the possibility of gastrointestinal stasis in a health management system for small herbivores. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) The health management system for small herbivores according to the present invention comprises a first detection means for detecting whether the hard stool of a small herbivore is less than a first size, and a controller, wherein the controller determines that the small herbivore may have gastrointestinal stasis, provided that the first detection means has detected that the hard stool of the small herbivore is less than the first size.

[0007] With the above configuration, it is possible to manage the health of small herbivores by determining the possibility of gastrointestinal stasis based on the size of their hard stools.

[0008] (2) The first detection means includes a first through-hole through which only hard stool smaller than the first size can pass, and a first sensor that detects hard stool that has passed through the first through-hole, and when the first sensor detects hard stool, it may be detected that the hard stool is smaller than the first size.

[0009] (3) The controller may be provided with a second detection means for detecting whether the hard stool is a second size or larger than the first size, and the controller may determine that the small herbivore does not have gastrointestinal stasis, provided that the second detection means has detected the hard stool as being of the second size or larger.

[0010] (4) The second detection means includes a second through-hole through which only hard stool smaller than the second size can pass, and a second sensor for detecting hard stool that could not pass through the second through-hole, and when the second sensor detects hard stool, it may be detected that the hard stool is of the second size or larger.

[0011] (5) The controller may determine that the small herbivore may have gastrointestinal stasis if the first detection means detects that the hard stool of the small herbivore is larger than the first size, the second detection means detects that the hard stool of the small herbivore is smaller than the second size, and predetermined exclusion conditions are met.

[0012] (6) A health management system for small herbivores comprising at least one of a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the first configuration has a first memory for storing a reference age and the age of the small herbivore, and the second configuration has a third detection means for detecting temperature and humidity, and a second memory for storing a reference temperature and a reference humidity, and the controller may determine that the exclusion condition is satisfied on the condition that the age of the small herbivore is equal to or greater than the reference age, provided that the first configuration is provided, and provided that the temperature detected by the third detection means is equal to or greater than the reference temperature, or the humidity detected by the third detection means is equal to or greater than the reference humidity, provided that the second configuration is provided, and the controller may determine that the exclusion condition is satisfied on the condition that the temperature detected by the third detection means is equal to or greater than the reference humidity.

[0013] (7) The controller may be equipped with a fourth detection means for detecting whether or not the small herbivore has defecated, and the controller may determine that the small herbivore has gastrointestinal stasis if, at predetermined intervals, the fourth detection means has detected that the small herbivore has not defecated for a predetermined number of consecutive times or more.

[0014] (8) The device comprises a wire mesh on which the small herbivore is placed, and a fifth detection means for detecting the feces of the small herbivore on the wire mesh, wherein the mesh size of the wire mesh is such that the hard feces of the small herbivore can pass through, and the controller may determine that the small herbivore may be suffering from gastrointestinal stasis, provided that the fifth detection means detects the feces of the small herbivore on the wire mesh.

[0015] (9) A health management system for small herbivores comprising at least one of a third configuration and a fourth configuration, wherein the third configuration comprises a feeder for holding food for small herbivores, a sixth detection means for detecting the amount of food held by the feeder, and a third memory for storing a first reference amount, and the fourth configuration comprises a water dispenser for holding drinking water, a seventh detection means for detecting the amount of water held by the water dispenser, and a third memory for storing a second reference amount, and the controller, provided that the third configuration is provided, at the start of each predetermined period And at the end, the sixth detection means may be made to detect the amount of feed, the amount of decrease in the amount of feed during the period may be calculated, and if the amount of decrease in the amount of feed is equal to or greater than the first standard amount, it may be determined that the small herbivore does not have gastrointestinal stasis. Provided that the fourth configuration is provided, at the beginning and end of each predetermined period, the seventh detection means may be made to detect the amount of water, the amount of decrease in the amount of water during the period may be calculated, and if the amount of decrease in the amount of water is equal to or greater than the second standard amount, it may be determined that the small herbivore does not have gastrointestinal stasis.

[0016] (10) A feeder for holding food for small herbivores, and a first supply means for supplying at least one type of fragrant hay to the feeder, which is selected from Italian ryegrass, oat hay, wheat hay, barley, and alfalfa, wherein the controller may, on the condition that it determines that the small herbivore may have gastrointestinal stasis, have the first supply means supply the fragrant hay at predetermined intervals.

[0017] (11) The controller comprises a sixth detection means for detecting the amount of feed held by the feeder and a third memory for storing a first standard amount. The controller may, at the beginning and end of each predetermined period, cause the sixth detection means to detect the amount of fragrant grass feed, calculate the amount of fragrant grass lost, determine that the small herbivore has gastrointestinal stasis if the amount of fragrant grass has not decreased, and determine that the small herbivore does not have gastrointestinal stasis if the amount of fragrant grass lost is equal to or greater than the first standard amount.

[0018] (12) The controller comprises a notification means for notifying that the small herbivore needs care, a receiving means for receiving input that the small herbivore has received the care, and a second supply means for supplying at least one type of treat from fruit and dried leaves as a fibrous treat to the feeder, wherein the controller causes the notification means to notify that the small herbivore needs care, provided that the amount of the fragrant hay consumed is greater than zero and less than the first standard amount, and after the notification, the receiving means Conditional on the absence of input indicating that the herbivore has received the above care, the second supply means may be instructed to supply the above treat at predetermined intervals, and the sixth detection means may be instructed to detect the amount of the above treat at the start and end of each predetermined interval, and the amount of the above treat reduced may be calculated. Conditional on the absence of a reduction in the above treat, the small herbivore may be judged to have gastrointestinal stasis, and conditional on the absence of a reduction in the above treat being zero, the small herbivore may be judged not to have gastrointestinal stasis.

[0019] (13) The controller is equipped with a reservation means for transmitting a signal to make an appointment to visit an animal hospital, and the controller may, on the condition that it has determined that the small herbivore has gastrointestinal stasis, cause the reservation means to transmit a signal to make an appointment to visit an animal hospital. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, the health of small herbivores can be managed by determining the possibility of gastrointestinal stasis. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0021] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of the rabbit health management system 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2(A) is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the hard stool storage unit 10, and Figure 2(B) is a schematic diagram showing the first guide plate 14 and the second guide plate 16 of the hard stool storage unit 10. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the controller 20. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the controller 20. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the controller 20 following the flowchart of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the controller 20 following the flowchart of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the hard feces stocker 10 according to the modified example.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, as an embodiment of the small herbivore health management system according to the present invention, a rabbit health management system will be described in detail as an example. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples of the present disclosure, and it is needless to say that the embodiments can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present disclosure.

[0023] [Configuration of Rabbit Health Management System 1] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2(A), the rabbit health management system 1 includes a cage 2 for raising the rabbit R and a controller 20. Only one rabbit R is housed in the cage 2. Hereinafter, the vertical direction is defined based on the state where the cage 2 is installed so as to be usable. The front-rear direction is defined with the side where the door 7 is provided as the front side. The left-right direction is defined when the cage 2 is viewed from the front side.

[0024] Rabbit feces are broadly classified into hard feces and cecal feces. Hard feces consist of fibrous material that cannot be digested in the colon. When hairball formation occurs due to gastrointestinal stasis (hereinafter simply referred to as "stasis"), multiple hard feces may become linked together in a bead-like fashion due to the rabbit's shed hair mixed in with the hard feces. Hard feces linked in this way are called "connected feces." Cecal feces are feces that have been separated in the colon from nutrients that could not be digested and absorbed in one go. Cecal feces are softer than hard feces and consist of multiple feces encased in mucus, forming a cluster-like shape.

[0025] Cage 2 comprises a wire mesh 3, a feeder 4, a water dispenser 5, a suction fan 6, a door 7, a hard stool container 10, and an environmental sensor 17. The rabbit R is placed on the wire mesh 3. The door 7 is opened when the rabbit R is taken in or out of cage 2, and closed when the rabbit R is housed in cage 2. The environmental sensor 17 detects the ambient temperature and ambient humidity. The environmental sensor 17 corresponds to a third detection means. As shown in Figure 3, the controller 20 has an imaging unit 24 and a stand 29. The stand 29 supports the controller 20 in a position where the imaging unit 24 can image the entire cage 2. The controller 20 may be, for example, a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, or a personal computer. The personal computer may be separate from the imaging unit 24, or only the imaging unit 24 may be supported by the stand 29.

[0026] [Hard Toilet Storage Box 10] As shown in Figure 2(A), the hard feces storage unit 10 includes a first sorting cylinder 11, a second sorting cylinder 12, a feces tray 13, a first guide plate 14, a second guide plate 16, and a first urine sheet 15. In this embodiment, the first size s1 is 3 mm and the second size s2 is 7 mm. The rabbit R defecates on the wire mesh 3. The mesh size of the wire mesh 3 is larger than the maximum diameter of the hard feces that the rabbit R defecates. In other words, the mesh size of the wire mesh 3 is large enough to allow the rabbit R's hard feces to pass through. As shown in Figure 2(B), the first guide plate 14 has a first valley 14a in the central part in the front-rear direction. The front and rear parts of the first guide plate 14 are inclined to descend toward the first valley 14a. The first valley 14a extends in the left-right direction. The first valley 14a is inclined to descend from left to right. The left end of the first guide plate 14 abuts against the left end of the cage 2. The right end of the first guide plate 14 is separated from the right end of the cage 2. The first urine sheet 15 is detachably laid on the upper surface of the first guide plate 14.

[0027] The second guide plate 16 has a second valley 16a in its central portion in the front-to-back direction. The second valley 16a of the second guide plate 16 is located directly below the first valley 14a of the first guide plate 14. The front and rear portions of the second guide plate 16 are inclined to slope downward toward the second valley 16a. The second valley 16a extends in the left-to-right direction. The second valley 16a is inclined to slope downward from right to left. The right end of the second guide plate 16 abuts against the right end of the cage 2. The left end of the second guide plate 16 is spaced away from the left end of the cage 2. The distance from the left end of the second guide plate 16 to the left end of the cage 2 is greater than the maximum diameter of the rabbit R's hard stool.

[0028] The second guide plate 16 has a first through hole 16b and a second through hole 16c in the second valley portion 16a. The first sorting cylinder 11 is fixed to the first through hole 16b. The first through hole 16b communicates with the first sorting cylinder 11. The inner diameter of the first through hole 16b and the inner diameter of the first sorting cylinder 11 is a first size s1, and only hard stool smaller than the first size s1 can pass through the first through hole 16b. The second sorting cylinder 12 is fixed to the second through hole 16c. The second through hole 16c communicates with the second sorting cylinder 12. The inner diameter of the second through hole 16c and the inner diameter of the second sorting cylinder 12 is a second size s2, and only hard stool smaller than the second size s2 can pass through the second through hole 16c.

[0029] The feces tray 13 is detachably attached to the cage 2. The feces tray 13 slides in the front-to-back direction to be attached and detached. When attached to the cage 2, the feces tray 13 is located below the second guide plate 16. The feces tray 13 has partition plates 13d and 13e. The partition plates 13d and 13e extend in the front-to-back direction and divide the inside of the feces tray 13 into three compartments. The first compartment 13a is the rightmost compartment inside the feces tray 13. The first compartment 13a is located below the first sorting cylinder 11. The middle compartment 13b is the central compartment inside the feces tray 13 in the left-to-right direction. The middle compartment 13b is located below the second sorting cylinder 12. The second compartment 13c is the leftmost compartment inside the feces tray 13. The second compartment 13c is located below the left end of the second guide plate 16.

[0030] In Figure 2(A), a hard stool P of a rabbit R, larger in diameter than the second size s2, is exemplified in the second compartment 13c. The first compartment 13a is equipped with a first sensor 31. The first sensor 31 weighs the contents of the first compartment 13a and outputs a signal corresponding to the weight. As a result, the first sensor 31 detects hard stool that has passed through the first through-hole 16b. When the first sensor 31 detects hard stool, the controller 20 detects that the hard stool is smaller than the first size. The first through-hole 16b, the first sensor 31, and the controller 20 correspond to the first detection means.

[0031] The intermediate compartment 13b is equipped with an intermediate sensor 32. The intermediate sensor 32 weighs the contents of the intermediate compartment 13b and outputs a signal corresponding to the weight. The second compartment 13c is equipped with a second sensor 33. The second sensor 33 weighs the contents of the second compartment 13c and outputs a signal corresponding to the weight. As a result, the second sensor 33 detects hard stool that could not pass through the second through-hole 16c. When the second sensor 33 detects hard stool, the controller 20 detects that the hard stool is of size 2 or larger. The second through-hole 16c, the second sensor 33, and the controller 20 correspond to the second detection means.

[0032] For example, pressure sensors can be used for the first sensor 31, the intermediate sensor 32, and the second sensor 33. The pressure sensor has a piezoelectric element, an amplification circuit, and an AD (Analogue to Digital) conversion circuit. When the piezoelectric element receives pressure corresponding to the weight in the compartment, it outputs a voltage corresponding to that pressure. The amplification circuit amplifies the voltage output by the piezoelectric element. The AD conversion circuit outputs a digital signal corresponding to the output voltage of the amplification circuit to the controller 20. Note that sensors other than pressure sensors may be used for the first sensor 31, the intermediate sensor 32, and the second sensor 33.

[0033] [Feeder 4] As shown in Figure 1, the feeder 4 has a feed storage container 4a and a feed tray 4b. The main body of the feed storage container 4a is divided internally into three compartments 4c, 4d, and 4e. As shown in Figure 2(A), a supply port 4f is provided at the bottom of compartment 4c. The shutter 4g moves vertically to close and open the supply port 4f. The feed storage container 4a has a guide rail (not shown) and a drive motor. The guide rail guides the shutter 4g vertically. The drive motor has a pinion gear fixed to its rotating shaft. The shutter 4g has a rack gear (not shown). The rack gear of the shutter 4g meshes with the pinion gear of the drive motor. When the controller 20 inputs a drive signal to the drive motor and rotates it, the shutter 4g moves vertically.

[0034] When the supply port 4f is opened, the rabbit R's food in compartment 4c falls into the feeding tray 4b by its own weight. Compartments 4d and 4e also have supply ports and shutters (not shown), similar to compartment 4c. The shutters of compartments 4d and 4e move vertically under the control of the controller 20 by a drive mechanism similar to that of the shutter in compartment 4c. Food is supplied to the rabbit R in this configuration. The feeding stocker 4a is fixed to the cage 2 with fasteners (not shown).

[0035] In this embodiment, the feeding storage unit 4a stores different types of rabbit feed in each compartment. Specifically, compartment 4c stores "ordinary hay." "Ordinary hay" is timothy grass. Compartment 4d stores "fragrant hay." "Fragrant hay" is at least one of the following: Italian ryegrass, oat hay, wheat hay, barley, and alfalfa.

[0036] Section 4e is for storing "high-fiber treats." These treats consist of at least one type of fruit and dried leaf. Rabbit R's preference for "regular hay" is lowest, for "fragrant hay" it's moderate, and for "high-fiber treats" it's highest. Since Rabbit R prefers highly palatable food to less palatable food, even if it won't eat less palatable food, it may eat highly palatable food. By moving the shutter corresponding to the type of food up and down to open the supply opening, the appropriate type of food can be supplied. Note that the storage of each type of food in each section is not limited to the above.

[0037] The feeding tray 4b holds the rabbit food R supplied from the feeding stocker 4a. The feeding tray 4b has a food quantity sensor 34. The food quantity sensor 34 measures the weight of the rabbit food R held in the feeding tray 4b. The food quantity sensor 34 can be, for example, a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor has a piezoelectric element, an amplification circuit, and an AD (Analogue to Digital) conversion circuit. When the piezoelectric element receives pressure corresponding to the weight of the rabbit food R, it outputs a voltage corresponding to that pressure. The amplification circuit amplifies the voltage output by the piezoelectric element. The AD conversion circuit outputs a digital signal corresponding to the output voltage of the amplification circuit to the controller 20. Note that a sensor other than a pressure sensor may be used as the food quantity sensor 34. The food quantity sensor 34 corresponds to the sixth detection means.

[0038] [Water dispenser 5] As shown in Figure 1, the water dispenser 5 has a water storage tank 5a and a water supply nozzle 5b. The water dispenser 5 is fixed to the cage 2 with a fixing device (not shown). The water storage tank 5a is marked with a scale 5c that indicates the amount of drinking water stored for the rabbit R. By comparing the water level in the water storage tank 5a with the scale 5c, the amount of water stored in the water dispenser 5 can be determined.

[0039] [Suction Fan 6] The suction fan 6 comprises a sirocco fan and a collection pack (not shown). The suction fan 6 uses the sirocco fan to suck up the rabbit's hair. The collection pack is, for example, a breathable paper pack. The collection pack is attached to the exhaust port of the sirocco fan and collects the rabbit's hair discharged by the sirocco fan. Note that a fan other than a sirocco fan may be used as the suction fan 6. Also, multiple suction fans 6 may be provided.

[0040] [Controller 20] As shown in Figure 3, the controller 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, memory 22, a short-range wireless communication interface 23, an imaging unit 24, a touch panel 25, a speaker 26, a wireless communication interface 27, and a timer 28. The CPU 21 is an arithmetic unit. The memory 22 is a storage device. The memory 22 includes RAM (Random Access Memory), which is a volatile memory that can be accessed at high speed, and ROM (Read Only Memory), which is a non-volatile memory.

[0041] Memory 22 stores the OS (Operating System), the application program of the rabbit health management system 1, the parameters necessary for the program's operation, and image data, which will be described later. These parameters include the normal amount of food for rabbit R, the reference age, the age of rabbit R, the reference temperature, the reference humidity, the first reference amount, and the second reference amount. Memory 22 corresponds to the first memory, which stores the reference age and the age of rabbit R. Memory 22 also corresponds to the second memory, which stores the reference temperature and the reference humidity. Memory 22 also corresponds to the third memory, which stores the first reference amount and the second reference amount. The normal amount of food for rabbit R is the weight of food that a healthy rabbit R would eat during the interval time described later.

[0042] The reference age is a standard for determining whether rabbit R is old or old. In this embodiment, the reference age is set to 2 years old. Rabbits under 2 years old tend to produce smaller, harder stools compared to rabbits 2 years old or older, even if they do not have stasis, because their bodies are smaller. Alternatively, instead of rabbit R's age, rabbit R's date of birth may be stored in memory 22, and rabbit R's age may be calculated from rabbit R's date of birth. The first reference amount is a standard amount for determining whether rabbit R's food intake is too much or too little. The second reference amount is a standard amount for determining whether rabbit R's water intake is too much or too little.

[0043] Of the parameters mentioned above, the normal food amount for rabbit R, the reference age, the reference temperature, the reference humidity, the first reference amount, and the second reference amount are each stored as default values ​​in memory 22 at the time of factory shipment. The age of rabbit R is entered by the user of the rabbit health management system 1 using the touch panel 25 of the controller 20 when starting to use the system. If the age of rabbit R has not been entered, a message prompting the user to enter the age of rabbit R may be displayed on the touch panel 25. Furthermore, when the above message is displayed, the operation of the rabbit health management system 1, as shown in Figures 5 to 7, may be suspended.

[0044] Regarding the normal amount of food for rabbit R, when rabbit R is in good health, the processes of steps S6, S11, and S12 in Figure 4 described later may be performed, and the average value of the obtained food amount may be stored in memory 22 as the normal amount of food for rabbit R. Considering that the amount of food will fluctuate due to seasonal and environmental factors, it is preferable to calculate the average amount of food over a period in which the season and environmental factors are common.

[0045] As shown in Figure 1, the imaging unit 24 is positioned to capture images of the cage 2 and the water dispenser 5. In this embodiment, the imaging unit 24 always captures images of the cage 2 and the water dispenser 5 from the same angle. The first sensor 31, intermediate sensor 32, second sensor 33 of the feces tray 13, the imaging unit 24, and the controller 20 correspond to the fourth detection means. The imaging unit 24 and the controller 20 correspond to the fifth and seventh detection means.

[0046] The short-range wireless communication interface 23 performs wireless communication using two methods: wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) and Bluetooth (registered trademark). The short-range wireless communication interface 23 sends an email requesting an appointment to the animal hospital via the internet 40 using wireless LAN. The short-range wireless communication interface 23 also accesses the feeder 4, suction fan 6, hard stool storage 10, and environmental sensor 17 using Bluetooth (registered trademark). As a result, the controller 20 transmits and receives signals wirelessly to the first sensor 31, intermediate sensor 32, and second sensor 33 of the hard stool storage 10, the feed amount sensor 34 of the feeder 4, the shutter 4g drive mechanism, and the environmental sensor 17, etc. Note that a communication method other than Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used instead of Bluetooth (registered trademark). Alternatively, the controller 20 may access the feeder 4, suction fan 6, hard stool storage 10, and environmental sensor 17, etc., using wired communication such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) instead of short-range wireless communication. The short-range wireless communication interface 23 and the controller 20 correspond to notification means.

[0047] The imaging unit 24 images the wire mesh 3 inside the cage 2 and the water storage tank 5a of the water dispenser 5. The imaging unit 24 stores the image data obtained by imaging in the memory 22. The touch panel 25 is a combination of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel and a touch pad. The touch panel 25 displays information on the LCD panel and accepts operation input via the touch pad. The touch panel 25 and controller 20 constitute the reception means. The speaker 26 provides audio output. The wireless communication interface 27 connects to the public network via a wireless base station. The timer 28 is a so-called interval timer. When an interval time is set, the timer 28 inputs an interrupt signal to the CPU 21 at each set interval time. This interrupt signal allows the CPU 21 to know that the interval time has elapsed.

[0048] [Sorting out hard stools in rabbit R] In the rabbit health management system 1, rabbit R defecates on the wire mesh 3. Connected feces are longer than the mesh of the wire mesh 3, so they get caught on the wire mesh 3 and do not fall down to the bottom of the wire mesh 3. Unconnected feces pass through the mesh of the wire mesh 3 and fall down to the bottom of the wire mesh 3. Rabbit R's urine also passes through the mesh of the wire mesh 3 and flows down. The urine that flows down is absorbed by the first urine sheet 15.

[0049] As shown in Figure 2, when rabbit R's hard stool falls onto the first urine sheet 15, it rolls down along the slope of the first guide plate 14 into the first valley 14a. The hard stool of rabbit R moves to the right along the slope of the first valley 14a and falls onto the second guide plate 16 from the right edge of the first guide plate 14. The hard stool of rabbit R moves along the slope of the second guide plate 16 into the second valley 16a. Since the second valley 16a of the second guide plate 16 is located directly below the first valley 14a of the first guide plate 14, the hard stool of rabbit R that falls from the first valley 14a of the first guide plate 14 onto the second guide plate 16 quickly reaches the second valley 16a of the second guide plate 16.

[0050] The hard feces of rabbit R roll along the second valley 16a and reach the first through-hole 16b. The inner diameter of the first through-hole 16b is the first size s1. Therefore, if the outer diameter of the hard feces of rabbit R is less than the first size s1, it falls into the first through-hole 16b. The first through-hole 16b communicates with the first sorting cylinder 11. Since the inner diameter of the first sorting cylinder 11 is also the first size s1, the hard feces of rabbit R pass through the first sorting cylinder 11 and fall into the first compartment 13a of the feces tray 13.

[0051] If the outer diameter of rabbit R's hard stool is larger than the first size s1, it will not fall into the first through-hole 16b but will pass over it. The hard stool of rabbit R will continue to roll along the second valley 16a and reach the second through-hole 16c. The inner diameter of the second through-hole 16c is the second size s2. Therefore, if the outer diameter of rabbit R's hard stool is less than the second size s2, it will fall into the second through-hole 16c. The second through-hole 16c is connected to the second sorting tube 12. The inner diameter of the second sorting tube 12 is also the second size s2, so the hard stool of rabbit R will pass through the second sorting tube 12 and fall into the intermediate compartment 13b of the feces tray 13.

[0052] If the outer diameter of rabbit R's hard stool is larger than the second size s2, it will not fall into the second through-hole 16c but will pass over it. The hard stool of rabbit R will continue to roll along the second valley 16a and fall from the left end of the second guide plate 16 into the second compartment 13c of the feces tray 13. In this way, rabbit R's feces are sorted into connected feces, hard stools smaller than the first size s1, hard stools larger than the first size s1 but smaller than the second size s2, and hard stools larger than the second size s2. The size of the feces excreted by rabbit R is appropriate to rabbit R's health condition, so rabbit R's health condition can be estimated from the size of the feces.

[0053] [Detection using the imaging unit 24] The controller 20 captures an image of the cage 2 with the imaging unit 24 and detects the presence or absence of rabbits R and tethered droppings by image recognition processing using the obtained image data. The controller 20 also detects the scale 5c and water level of the water storage tank 5a of the water dispenser 5 by image recognition processing using the same image data, thereby detecting the amount of water stored in the water storage tank 5a. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology may be used for these image recognition processes, or other image recognition technologies may be used.

[0054] When using AI technology, for example, an AI can be trained using image data of rabbit R inside cage 2 and image data of rabbit R not inside cage 2 as training data. For the detection of connected droppings, the AI ​​can be trained using image data of connected droppings and image data of rabbit R not inside cage 2 as training data. In this embodiment, if rabbit R is not inside cage 2, connected droppings are not detected. Therefore, if image data of rabbit R inside cage 2 is used as training data, the image recognition accuracy of connected droppings can be improved compared to an AI that uses image data of rabbit R not inside cage 2 as training data.

[0055] [Rabbit Health Management System 1 Operation] Next, we will explain how the rabbit health management system 1 works. The rabbit health management system 1 manages the rabbit's health by changing the type of food, prompting the rabbit's owner to care for the rabbit, and cleaning the cage 2, according to the condition of the rabbit's stool and the amount of food it eats.

[0056] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, in step S1, the controller 20 sets the type of food to be given to rabbit R to "ordinary hay" as an initial process, and in step S2, it sets the number of times rabbit R's droppings are not detected to 0. When the controller 20 detects that rabbit R is staying in cage 2 through the image recognition process described above (S3: Yes), in step S4, it sets the interval time in timer 28. In this embodiment, an example where the interval time is 1 hour is used for explanation, but the interval time may be a time other than 1 hour. The interval time set in timer 28 corresponds to a predetermined period.

[0057] In step S5, the controller 20 supplies food to the rabbit R. In step S1, the controller 20 sets the food type to "ordinary hay," and the "ordinary hay" is held in compartment 4c of the feeding stocker 4a of the feeder 4. Therefore, the controller 20 moves the shutter 4g to open the supply opening 4f of compartment 4c. As a result, the "ordinary hay" falls by its own weight from compartment 4c, through the supply opening 4f, into the feeding tray 4b, and is supplied to the rabbit R.

[0058] In step S6, the controller 20 weighs the amount of food in the feeding tray 4b, referring to the output signal of the food amount sensor 34 of the feeder 4, as the first food amount, which is the amount of food at the start of the interval period. The controller 20 also weighs the amount of water in the water storage tank 5a of the water dispenser 5, which is the first water amount, which is the amount of water at the start of the interval period. In this embodiment, the image data captured in step S3 to detect whether the rabbit R is present or absent is used to identify the scale 5c corresponding to the water level in the image. The scale 5c are numbered sequentially from the lower end of the scale 5c, and this number is designated as the first water amount. Since the positional relationship between the imaging unit 24 and the water storage tank 5a is fixed, the number of the scale 5c can be identified from its position in the image. Alternatively, the first water amount may be identified by image recognition processing such as AI technology.

[0059] In step S7, the controller 20 weighs the hard stool in each section of the feces tray 13 of the hard stool storage unit 10, referring to the output signals of the first sensor 31, the intermediate sensor 32, and the second sensor 33, as the first stool volume for each section: the first section 13a, the intermediate section 13b, and the second section 13c. In step S8, the controller 20 waits for the interval time of 1 hour to elapse. Once the interval time has elapsed and the timer 28 inputs an interrupt signal to the CPU 21, the controller 20 executes step S9.

[0060] The controller 20 uses the imaging unit 24 to image the cage 2 and detect whether the rabbit R is present or absent. The method for detecting whether the rabbit R is present or absent is the same as in step S3. If the rabbit R is absent from cage 2 (S9: No), the process proceeds to step S1 and the above process is repeated. If the rabbit R is present from cage 2 (S9: Yes), the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, the controller 20 detects the presence or absence of tethered droppings. In this embodiment, the image data captured in step S9 is used to detect the presence or absence of tethered droppings.

[0061] In step S11, the controller 20, in the same manner as in step S6, weighs the food in the feeding tray 4b by referring to the output signal of the feed amount sensor 34 of the feeder 4, which is the amount of food at the end of the interval period. Also, using the image data captured in step S9 to detect whether the rabbit R is present or absent, the controller 20 identifies the scale 5c corresponding to the water level, in the same manner as in step S6, and designates the number of that scale 5c as the second water volume. In step S12, the controller 20 calculates the amount of food consumed by subtracting the second food volume from the first food volume. Also, the controller 20 calculates the amount of water consumed by subtracting the number of the scale 5c identified as the second water volume (which is the amount of water at the end of the interval period) from the number of the scale 5c identified as the first water volume. In step S13, the controller 20 stores the numbers of the scale 5c that were identified as the second feed amount and second water amount in memory 22 as the numbers of the scale 5c that were newly identified as the first feed amount and first water amount, in order to use them for calculating the next feed amount and water intake amount.

[0062] In step S14, the controller 20 measures the second volume of feces in the first section 13a, the intermediate section 13b, and the second section 13c of the feces tray 13 of the hard feces stocker 10, in the same manner as in step S7. In step S15, the controller 20 subtracts the first volume of feces from the second volume of feces in the first section 13a, the intermediate section 13b, and the second section 13c to calculate the amount of feces excreted by rabbit R for each range of hard feces size. Rabbit R excretes about 100 to 300 hard feces per day. The number of hard feces per excretion is around 10. When rabbit R has a health problem, the hard feces become smaller. Therefore, in this embodiment, the presence or absence of stasis is determined by the size of the smallest hard feces excreted by rabbit R every hour.

[0063] In step S16, the controller 20 stores the second stool volume from each section in memory 22 as the new first stool volume for use in calculating the next stool volume. In step S17, the controller 20 detects the ambient temperature and ambient humidity by referring to the output signal of the ambient sensor 17. If the controller 20 does not detect either connected stool or hard stool (S18: No), in step S20, it increases the number of times rabbit R's stool has not been detected by 1. If the number of times it has not been detected is 1 (S21: 1), the controller 20 proceeds to step S8. If the number of times it has not been detected is 2 (S21: 2), the controller 20 determines in step S28 that rabbit R may have stasis. If the number of times connected stool has been detected is 3 (S21: 3), the controller 20 determines in step S36 that rabbit R has stasis.

[0064] If the controller 20 detects rabbit R's feces on the wire mesh 3 (S18: Yes), it sets the number of non-detections to 0 in step S19. If the controller 20 detects connected feces (S22: Yes), it determines in step S28 that rabbit R may be suffering from stasis. In other words, the controller 20 determines that rabbit R may be suffering from stasis on the condition that the fifth detection means detects rabbit R's feces on the wire mesh 3. If the controller 20 does not detect connected feces (S22: No), it proceeds to step S23.

[0065] The controller 20 compares the amount of food calculated in step S12 with the first reference amount. If it is equal to or greater than the first reference amount (S23: No), it determines that rabbit R is not stagnant and proceeds to step S39. If rabbit R's food amount is less than the first reference amount (S23: Yes), it compares the amount of water consumed calculated in step S12 with the second reference amount. If the amount of water consumed is less than the second reference amount (S24: Yes), the controller 20 determines that rabbit R is not stagnant and, in step S25, displays a message on the touch panel 25 prompting rabbit R's owner to take care of rabbit R's heat exhaustion.

[0066] The ideal temperature range for raising rabbits is said to be between 18°C ​​and 24°C, with a humidity of 40% to 60%. When displaying information to encourage care for rabbits suffering from summer fatigue, it is also acceptable to include both the ambient temperature and humidity. If rabbit R is suffering from summer fatigue rather than stasis, the owner can restore rabbit R's health by taking measures to combat summer fatigue, such as using air conditioning to lower the ambient temperature to an appropriate level.

[0067] If rabbit R's water intake is greater than or equal to the second standard amount (S24: No), the controller 20 checks the size of rabbit R's hard stool. Rabbit R will pass small hard stools if it is not in good health. In this embodiment, if hard stool is in the first compartment 13a and the weight measured by the first sensor 31 in the first compartment 13a of the feces tray 13 is greater than 0, the controller 20 determines that the size of rabbit R's hard stool is less than 3 mm (S26: Less than 3 mm), and in step S28, it determines that rabbit R may have stasis. In other words, the controller 20 determines that rabbit R may have stasis on the condition that the first through-hole 16b corresponding to the first detection means, the first sensor 31, and the controller 20 itself have detected rabbit R's hard stool as being less than the first size s1.

[0068] If there is no hard stool in the first compartment 13a, and there is hard stool in the intermediate compartment 13b, and the weight measured by the first sensor 31 in the first compartment 13a is 0, and the weight measured by the intermediate sensor 32 in the intermediate compartment 13b is greater than 0, then the controller 20 determines that the size of the rabbit R's hard stool is 3 to 7 mm (S26: 3 to 7 mm), and checks whether the predetermined exclusion conditions are met. In this embodiment, the predetermined exclusion conditions are whether the rabbit R's age is 2 years or older, which is the standard age. If the rabbit R's age is 2 years or older (S27: 2 years or older), then the controller 20 determines that the predetermined exclusion conditions are met. The controller 20 determines in step S28 that rabbit R may have stasis because the first detection means detects that rabbit R's hard stool is larger than the first size s1, the second detection means detects that rabbit R's hard stool is smaller than the second size s2, and the predetermined exclusion conditions are met.

[0069] If rabbit R is under 2 years old (S27: under 2 years old), the controller 20 proceeds to step S39. In other words, even if the first detection means detects that rabbit R's hard stool is larger than the first size s1, and the second detection means detects that rabbit R's hard stool is smaller than the second size s2, if the predetermined exclusion conditions are not met, it is determined that rabbit R does not have stasis.

[0070] If neither the first compartment 13a nor the intermediate compartment 13b contains hard stool, and there is hard stool in the second compartment 13c, and the weight measured by the first sensor 31 in the first compartment 13a and the weight measured by the intermediate sensor 32 in the intermediate compartment 13b are both 0, and the weight measured by the second sensor 33 in the second compartment 13c is greater than 0, then the controller 20 determines that the size of rabbit R's hard stool is 7 mm or larger (S26: 7 mm or larger), and proceeds to step S39. In other words, the controller 20 determines that rabbit R is not stagnant, provided that the second through-hole 16c corresponding to the second detection means, the second sensor 33, and the controller 20 itself have detected that rabbit R's hard stool is of the second size s2 or larger.

[0071] After processing in step S28, the controller 20 checks the type of food being supplied to rabbit R. If the type of food being supplied is "ordinary hay" (S29: "ordinary hay"), in step S30, the controller 20 changes the type of food to "fragrant hay" and proceeds to step S39. Since "fragrant hay" is more palatable to rabbit R than "ordinary hay," it is expected that rabbit R will eat the "fragrant hay" unless there is stasis.

[0072] If the type of feed being supplied is "fragrant hay" (S29: "fragrant hay"), the controller 20 compares the amount of food rabbit R calculated in step S12 with the normal amount of food rabbit R stored in memory 22. If the amount of food rabbit R is 80% or more of the normal amount of food (S31: 80% or more), the controller 20 proceeds to step S39. If the amount of food rabbit R is more than 0% of the normal amount of food but less than 80% (S31: less than 80%), the controller 20 displays a message on the touch panel 25 in step S32 prompting the rabbit R's owner to brush rabbit R. It is expected that brushing will reduce the amount of hair rabbit R sheds, making it less likely for hairballs to form in the rabbit R's digestive tract.

[0073] If the controller 20 receives input from the touch panel 25 that the owner has performed brushing care on rabbit R (S33: Yes), it proceeds to step S39. If the owner does not input that they have performed brushing care on rabbit R within the time T1 after the touch panel 25 displays a message prompting the owner to brush rabbit R (S33: No), the controller 20 changes the type of food for rabbit R to "high-fiber treats" in step S34 and proceeds to step S39.

[0074] Furthermore, since rabbits R have a higher preference for "high-fiber treats" than for "fragrant hay," it is expected that rabbits R will eat "high-fiber treats" unless they are stagnant. In this embodiment, the time T1 required for the owner to brush rabbit R is set to 10 minutes, but other times are also acceptable. Also, if rabbit R's food intake is 0% of the normal food intake (S31: 0%), the controller 20 determines in step S36 that rabbit R is stagnant.

[0075] If the type of food being supplied is a "high-fiber treat" (S29: "high-fiber treat"), the controller 20 checks the ratio of rabbit R's food intake, calculated in step S12, to the normal food intake. If rabbit R's food intake is greater than 0% of the normal food intake (S35: greater than 0%), the controller 20 proceeds to step S39. If rabbit R's food intake is 0% of the normal food intake (S35: 0%), the controller 20 determines in step S36 that rabbit R is stasied.

[0076] If stasis is detected in step S36, the controller 20 sends a signal to the animal hospital's reservation site via the internet 40 in step S37 to make an appointment at the animal hospital. In this embodiment, the controller 20 sends an email to the animal hospital's email address to confirm the appointment. Once the email confirmation is successfully sent, the controller 20 considers the appointment at the animal hospital to be complete and displays "Appointment made" on the touch panel 25 in step S38, before proceeding to step S39.

[0077] In step S39, the controller 20 detects whether rabbit R is present or absent from cage 2, in the same manner as in step S3. If rabbit R is absent from cage 2 (S39: No), the controller 20 activates the suction fan 6 in step S40 to clean out rabbit R's loose hair and other debris from cage 2. This prevents loose hair from entering rabbit R's mouth, thus preventing hairballs from forming in rabbit R's digestive tract.

[0078] If rabbit R is staying in cage 2 (S39: Yes), and after cleaning cage 2 is completed in step S40, the controller 20, in step S41, moves one of the shutters 4g, etc., depending on the type of rabbit food, opens one of the supply ports 4f, etc., and supplies the food. After that, the controller 20 proceeds to step S8.

[0079] [Effects of the embodiment] (1) According to the above embodiment, the condition of the rabbit R's stool and diet is automatically detected every hour, and it is quickly determined whether or not there is a possibility of stasis in the rabbit R, so the rabbit R's health can be properly managed.

[0080] (2) In the above embodiment, the size range of rabbit R's hard stool is divided into three categories: less than 3 mm, 3 mm or more but less than 7 mm, and 7 mm or more, and the amount of stool is detected. Young rabbits R, which are small in size, may have hard stools smaller than 7 mm even without stasis. In the above embodiment, when it is detected that rabbit R's hard stool is small, the age of rabbit R is determined as an exclusion condition, so that it is possible to mistakenly judge rabbit R as potentially having stasis when the hard stool of rabbit R has become small due to factors other than stasis. Therefore, the presence or absence of stasis in rabbit R can be determined with high accuracy.

[0081] (3) In addition to judging the size of the hard stool, the decision is made by combining whether or not rabbit R will eat ordinary hay with low palatability, fragrant hay with high palatability, and a high-fiber treat with even higher palatability. This prevents misdiagnosis of loss of appetite other than stasis as a possible sign of stasis. Therefore, the presence or absence of stasis in rabbit R can be determined with high accuracy.

[0082] (4) Rabbit R is an animal that eats and defecates all the time. Also, rabbit R sleeps in short bursts, with each sleep period lasting from a few minutes to several tens of minutes. Therefore, the period during which rabbit R does not defecate or eat due to sleep is also only a few minutes to several tens of minutes. In the above embodiment, the condition of rabbit R's stool and eating status are detected on an hourly basis, so it is possible to prevent a false judgment that there is a possibility of stasis due to sleep. Also, if there is no defecation for several hours in a row, it is thought that there is a problem with rabbit R's health, so it is possible to accurately determine that there is a possibility of stasis.

[0083] (5) Rabbit R may experience a decrease in appetite due to changes in temperature and humidity during the summer. Whether or not the decrease in appetite is due to summer can be determined from the amount of food and water Rabbit R eats and drinks. In the above embodiment, if the amount of food eaten decreases and the amount of water drunk increases, it is determined that there is a possibility of heat exhaustion and not stasis. This prevents misinterpreting a decrease in appetite due to summer as a possible cause of stasis.

[0084] [Differentiation] (1) In the above embodiment, an example of sorting hard feces of rabbit R using the first sorting cylinder 11 and the second sorting cylinder 12 was described, but instead, as shown in Figure 7, a lid (type discrimination opening) that changes the place where the hard feces of rabbit R fall depending on the size may be used. Among the components shown in Figure 7, those that have components corresponding to Figure 2 are assigned the same reference numeral. In Figure 7, the hard feces stocker 10 includes a third guide plate 43, a fourth guide plate 44, a fifth guide plate 50, a second urine sheet 45, a third urine sheet 46, cecal feces measuring sections 47, 48, a hard feces sensor 49, type discrimination openings 51, 52, and a feces tray 13. The wire mesh 41, 42 is divided into two stages. Below the wire mesh 41, 42 are the third guide plate 43, the fourth guide plate 44, and the fifth guide plate 50. A second urine sheet 45 and a third urine sheet 46 are detachably laid on the upper surfaces of the third guide plate 43 and the fourth guide plate 44, respectively.

[0085] Cecal droppings measuring units 47 and 48 are provided at the left ends of the third guide plate 43 and the fourth guide plate 44, respectively. If the rabbit R is in good health, it will eat its cecal droppings. On the other hand, when the rabbit is stagnant, its appetite decreases, and any cecal droppings that it has not eaten fall onto the third guide plate 43 and the fourth guide plate 44. Therefore, by detecting cecal droppings, the possibility of stasis can be determined. The cecal droppings adhere to and remain on the second urine sheet 45 and the third urine sheet 46 and do not fall downwards. The cecal droppings measuring units 47 and 48 detect the cecal droppings that remain on the second urine sheet 45 and the third urine sheet 46, respectively. The cecal droppings measuring units 47 and 48 may detect the cecal droppings by measuring the weight of the second urine sheet 45 and the third urine sheet 46 together with pressure sensors provided on the third guide plate 43 and the fourth guide plate 44, or by using other means.

[0086] The hard stool sensor 49 is a sensor that measures the size and number of hard stools of rabbit R as they fall from the fourth guide plate 44 onto the fifth guide plate 50. The third guide plate 43, the fourth guide plate 44, and the fifth guide plate 50 have grooves, similar to the first guide plate 14 and the second guide plate 16 in the above embodiment. The hard stool sensor 49 detects hard stools falling from the groove of the third guide plate 43. In this embodiment, a photointerrupter is used as the hard stool sensor 49. The photointerrupter consists of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The light-emitting element irradiates the light-receiving element with light, and the light-receiving element outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of light received from the light-emitting element. The output signal of the light-receiving element is amplified by an amplification circuit, converted into a digital signal by an AD conversion circuit, and then output to the controller.

[0087] When hard stool crosses the optical path from the light-emitting element to the photodetector, the light emitted by the light-emitting element is blocked. As a result, the amount of light received by the photodetector decreases, and the output signal of the photodetector changes. The controller 20 measures the size and number of hard stools of the rabbit R from the change in the output signal of the photodetector. The size of the hard stool can be determined by the length of time during which the amount of light received by the photodetector decreased. The number of hard stools can be determined by the number of times the amount of light received by the photodetector decreased. Note that means other than a photointerrupter may be used as the hard stool sensor 49.

[0088] The type identification ports 51 and 52 are provided in the valleys of the fifth guide plate 50, similar to the first through-hole 16b and second through-hole 16c in the above embodiment. The type identification ports 51 and 52 each have movable covers 53 and 54. The controller 20 rotates the movable covers 53 and 54 to open and close the type identification ports 51 and 52 in response to the output signal from the hard stool sensor 49. The inner diameter of the type identification ports 51 and 52 is larger than the outer diameter of the hard stool of the rabbit R. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the hard stool of the rabbit R from getting stuck in the type identification ports 51 and 52.

[0089] In this embodiment, the movable covers 53 and 54 each have a pivot shaft (not shown) and a drive motor. The fifth guide plate 50 has bearings (not shown) that support the pivot shafts of the movable covers 53 and 54, respectively. The controller 20 transmits a drive signal to the drive motor, thereby selectively rotating the movable covers 53 and 54 to open and close the type discrimination openings 51 and 52. Alternatively, other mechanisms may be used to open and close the type discrimination openings 51 and 52.

[0090] Similar to the embodiment described above, the first section 13a, the intermediate section 13b, and the second section 13c of the feces tray 13 are each equipped with fecal volume sensors. The fecal volume sensors measure the amount of hard feces in the first section 13a, the intermediate section 13b, and the second section 13c. The controller 20 acquires the amount of hard feces for each size range based on the output signals of the fecal volume sensors. The health of the rabbit R can be managed even when using such a hard feces storage unit 10.

[0091] (2) In the above embodiment, an example of detecting connected stool using the imaging unit 24 of the controller 20 was described, but connected stool may also be detected by providing a weight sensor on the wire mesh 3. As a weight sensor, for example, a pressure sensor and a support member for the pressure sensor may be provided on the lower side of the wire mesh 3. When the weight applied to the wire mesh 3 causes the wire mesh 3 to press the pressure sensor against the support member, the pressure sensor outputs a signal corresponding to the magnitude of the pressing force. If the pressure sensor outputs a signal corresponding to the weight of connected stool, the controller 20 can detect the presence or absence of connected stool.

[0092] (3) In the above embodiment, an example of managing the health of a rabbit R was described, but the health of any animal whose health can be managed by detecting changes in the size of its stool can be managed, other than rabbits. For example, guinea pigs and chinchillas are small herbivores like rabbits and can suffer from stasis, so the health of small herbivores such as guinea pigs and chinchillas can be managed using a small herbivore health management system that has the same configuration as the rabbit health management system 1 of the above embodiment.

[0093] (4) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the rabbit health management system 1 is equipped with a cage 2, but the rabbit health management system 1 does not need to have a cage 2. The rabbit health management system 1 manages the health of the rabbit R by detecting the size of the rabbit R's droppings, so if the rabbit R defecates into the hard stool storage unit 10, the health of the rabbit R can be managed even without a cage 2. For this reason, the health of the rabbit R can be managed by installing the hard stool storage unit 10 in the living room itself or in a built-in pet area in the living room.

[0094] (5) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the amount of food and water consumed by the rabbit R was used to determine whether or not there was a decrease in appetite, such as in summer. In addition to this, the following may also be done. The controller 20 stores the reference temperature and reference humidity in the memory 22. In this modified example, the reference temperature is set to 24°C and the reference humidity to 60%. In Figure 5, if the amount of water consumed is less than the second reference amount (S24: Yes), the controller 20 checks whether the ambient temperature detected in step S17 is equal to or greater than the reference temperature and whether the ambient humidity detected in step S17 is equal to or greater than the reference humidity, as conditions for excluding stasis.

[0095] If the ambient temperature is above the reference temperature, or if the ambient humidity is above the reference humidity, the controller 20 determines that the exclusion conditions are met and there is no possibility of stasis, and proceeds to step S25. If the ambient temperature is below the reference temperature and the ambient humidity is below the reference humidity, the controller 20 proceeds to step S26. In this way, it is possible to prevent the controller from mistakenly determining that there is a possibility of stasis when the amount of food and water intake decreases due to environmental conditions. Therefore, the accuracy of determining whether or not there is a possibility of stasis can be improved.

[0096] (6) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which it was determined that rabbit R is in stasis if the number of times rabbit R's stool was not detected was 3. However, the number of times rabbit R is in stasis may be other than 3. The controller 20 can manage rabbit R's health if it determines that rabbit R is in stasis, provided that the fourth detection means has detected that rabbit R has not defecated a predetermined number of consecutive times at predetermined intervals.

[0097] (7) In the above embodiment, an example of making a consultation appointment by sending an email to the animal hospital in S37 was described, but consultation appointments may also be made by means other than email, such as accessing the animal hospital's consultation appointment website. Alternatively, instead of making a consultation appointment with the animal hospital, the user may be notified that the rabbit R has stasis by displaying it on the touch panel 25, etc.

[0098] (8) Rabbits are crepuscular animals and have a habit of being most active at dawn and dusk. On the other hand, rabbits suffering from stasis tend to move slowly. For this reason, the controller 20 may image the rabbit R with the imaging unit 24 at dawn and dusk and calculate an index value of the slowness of the rabbit R's movements, such as the distance the rabbit R moves. If it is determined from such an index value that the rabbit R's movements are slow, there is a possibility of stasis, and conversely, if it is determined that the rabbit R's movements are not slow, there is a possibility that there is no stasis. In this way, by determining whether or not the rabbit R's movements are slow, the accuracy of determining the possibility of the rabbit R having stasis can be improved.

[0099] [Note 1] A health management system for small herbivores comprising a first detection means for detecting whether the hard stool of a small herbivore is less than a first size, and a controller, wherein the controller determines that the small herbivore may have gastrointestinal stasis, provided that the first detection means has detected that the hard stool of the small herbivore is less than the first size. For this reason, the controller 20 executes steps S7 to S9 and S14 to S16 in Figure 4, and steps S26 and S28 in Figure 5. During this execution, steps S1 to S2, S5 to S6, S10 to S13 and S17 in Figure 4, steps S18 to S25 and S27 in Figure 5, and steps S29 to S38 in Figure 6 can be omitted.

[0100] [Note 2] The above-mentioned first detection means comprises a first through-hole through which only hard stool of a size smaller than a first size can pass, and a first sensor that detects hard stool that has passed through the first through-hole, and when the first sensor detects hard stool, it is detected that the hard stool is smaller than the first size, as described in Appendix 1, for the health management system for small herbivores. For this reason, the controller 20 executes steps S7, S14, S15 in Figure 4, and step S26 in Figure 5. During this execution, steps S1 to S2, S5 to S6, S10 to S13, S17 in Figure 4, steps S18 to S25, S27, S29 to S38 in Figure 5, and steps S39 to S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted.

[0101] [Note 3] A health management system for small herbivores as described in Appendix 1, comprising a second detection means for detecting whether the hard stool is a second size or larger than the first size, and the controller determines that the small herbivore is not suffering from gastrointestinal stasis, provided that the second detection means has detected the hard stool as being of the second size or larger. For this reason, the controller 20 executes steps S7 to S9, steps S14 to S16 in Figure 4, and step S26 in Figure 5. During this execution, steps S1 to S2, steps S5 to S6, steps S10 to S13, and S17 in Figure 4, steps S18 to S25, steps S27 to S38 in Figure 5, and steps S39 to S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted.

[0102] [Note 4] The above-mentioned second detection means comprises a second through-hole through which only hard stool smaller than the second size can pass, and a second sensor that detects the hard stool that could not pass through the second through-hole, and when the second sensor detects hard stool, it is detected that the hard stool is of the second size or larger, as described in Appendix 3, for the health management system for small herbivores. For this reason, the controller 20 executes steps S7, S14, S15 in Figure 4, and step S26 in Figure 5. In this execution, steps S1 to S2, S5 to S6, S10 to S13, S17 in Figure 4, steps S18 to S25, S27 to S38 in Figure 5, and steps S39 to S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted.

[0103] [Note 5] The above controller is a health management system for small herbivores as described in Appendix 3, which determines that the small herbivore may have gastrointestinal stasis, provided that the first detection means detects that the hard stool of the small herbivore is larger than the first size, the second detection means detects that the hard stool of the small herbivore is smaller than the second size, and predetermined exclusion conditions are met. For this reason, the controller 20 executes steps S7 to S9 and S14 to S16 in Figure 4, and steps S26, S27, and S28 in Figure 5. During this execution, steps S1 to S2, S5 to S6, S10 to S13, and S17 in Figure 4, steps S18 to S25 and S29 to S38 in Figure 5, and steps S39 to S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted.

[0104] [Note 6] A health management system for small herbivores comprising at least one of a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the first configuration has a first memory for storing a reference age and the age of the small herbivore, and the second configuration has a third detection means for detecting temperature and humidity, a reference temperature and a second memory for storing reference humidity, and the controller determines that the exclusion condition is satisfied on the condition that the age of the small herbivore is equal to or greater than the reference age, provided that the first configuration is provided, and provides that the temperature detected by the third detection means is equal to or greater than the reference temperature, or provides that the humidity detected by the third detection means is equal to or greater than the reference humidity, provided that the second configuration is provided, thereby determining that the exclusion condition is satisfied. In this execution, steps S1 to S17 in Figure 4, steps S18 to S26 and S28 to S38 in Figure 5, and steps S39 to S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted. In the second configuration, the controller 20 executes step S17 in Figure 5, and as in the modified example above, if the ambient temperature is above the reference temperature or the ambient humidity is above the reference humidity, the controller 20 determines that the exclusion conditions are met and there is no possibility of congestion, and proceeds to step S25. If the ambient temperature is below the reference temperature and the ambient humidity is below the reference humidity, the controller 20 proceeds to step S26. In this execution, steps S1 to S16 in Figure 4, steps S18 to S38 in Figure 5, and steps S39 to S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted.

[0105] [Note 7] A health management system for small herbivores as described in Appendix 1, comprising a fourth detection means for detecting whether or not the small herbivore has defecated, wherein the controller determines that the small herbivore has gastrointestinal stasis if the fourth detection means has detected that the small herbivore has not defecated a predetermined number of consecutive times at predetermined intervals. For this reason, the controller 20 executes steps S7 to S10 and S14 to S16 in Figure 4, and steps S18 to S21 and S28 in Figure 5. During this execution, steps S1, S5 to S6, S11 to S13 and S17 in Figure 4, steps S22 to S27 and S29 to S38 in Figure 5, and steps S39 to S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted.

[0106] [Note 8] A health management system for small herbivores as described in Appendix 3, comprising a wire mesh on which the small herbivore is placed, and a fifth detection means for detecting the feces of the small herbivore on the wire mesh, wherein the mesh size of the wire mesh is large enough to allow the hard feces of the small herbivore to pass through, and the controller determines that the small herbivore may have gastrointestinal stasis when the fifth detection means detects the feces of the small herbivore on the wire mesh. For this reason, the controller 20 executes steps S10 in Figure 4, and steps S22 and S28 in Figure 5. During this execution, steps S1 to S2, S5 to S6, S11 to S13, and S17 in Figure 4, steps S22 to S27, S29 to S38 in Figure 5, and steps S39 to S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted.

[0107] [Note 9] A health management system for small herbivores comprising at least one of a third configuration and a fourth configuration, wherein the third configuration comprises a feeder for holding food for small herbivores, a sixth detection means for detecting the amount of food held by the feeder, and a third memory for storing a first reference amount; the fourth configuration comprises a water dispenser for holding drinking water, a seventh detection means for detecting the amount of water held by the water dispenser, and a third memory for storing a second reference amount; and the controller, provided that the third configuration is included, operates at the start and end of predetermined periods. The health management system for small herbivores described in Appendix 1 involves having the sixth detection means detect the amount of feed, calculating the decrease in the amount of feed during the period, and determining that the small herbivore is not suffering from gastrointestinal stasis if the decrease is equal to or greater than the first standard amount, and provided that the system is equipped with the fourth configuration, having the seventh detection means detect the amount of water at the beginning and end of each predetermined period, calculating the decrease in the amount of water during the period, and determining that the small herbivore is not suffering from gastrointestinal stasis if the decrease is equal to or greater than the second standard amount. For the third configuration, the controller 20 executes steps S6, S8, S11 to S13 in Figure 4, and step S23 in Figure 5. During this execution, steps S1 to S2, S7, S10, S14 to S17 in Figure 4, steps S18 to S22, S24 to S38 in Figure 5, and steps S39 to S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted. For the fourth configuration, the controller 20 executes steps S6, S8, S11 to S13 in Figure 4, and step S24 in Figure 5. During this execution, steps S1 to S2, S7, S10, S14 to S17 in Figure 4, steps S18 to S23, S25 to S38 in Figure 5, and steps S39 to S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted.

[0108] [Note 10] A health management system for small herbivores, as described in Appendices 1, 5, and 8, comprising a feeder for holding food for small herbivores, and a first supply means for supplying at least one type of fragrant hay to the feeder, selected from Italian ryegrass, oat hay, wheat hay, barley, and alfalfa, wherein the controller, on the condition that it determines the small herbivore may have gastrointestinal stasis, causes the first supply means to supply the fragrant hay at predetermined intervals. For this purpose, the controller 20 executes steps S28 to S30 in Figure 5 and step S41 in Figure 6. In this execution, steps S1 to S2, S7, S10, S14 to S17 in Figure 4, steps S18 to S23, S25 to S38 in Figure 5, and steps S39 to S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted.

[0109] [Note 11] The health management system for small herbivores, as described in Appendix 10, comprises a sixth detection means for detecting the amount of feed held by the feeder, and a third memory for storing a first reference amount. The controller, at the beginning and end of each predetermined period, causes the sixth detection means to detect the amount of fragrant hay feed, calculates the amount of fragrant hay lost, determines that the small herbivore has gastrointestinal stasis if the amount of fragrant hay lost is not greater than or equal to the first reference amount, and determines that the small herbivore does not have gastrointestinal stasis. For this purpose, the controller 20 executes steps S6, S11 to S13 in Figure 4, and steps S29, S31, and S36 in Figure 5. In this execution, steps S1 to S2, S7, S10, S14 to S17 in Figure 4, steps S18 to S28, S30, S32 to S35, S37 to S38 in Figure 5, and steps S39 to S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted.

[0110] [Note 12] The controller comprises a notification means for notifying that the small herbivore needs care, a receiving means for receiving input that the small herbivore has received the care, and a second supply means for supplying at least one type of treat from fruit and dried leaves as a fibrous treat to the feeder, wherein the controller causes the notification means to notify that the small herbivore needs care, provided that the amount of the fragrant hay consumed is greater than zero and less than the first standard amount, and after the notification, the receiving means confirms that the small herbivore has received the care A health management system for small herbivores as described in Appendix 11, which, on the condition that no input indicating receipt has been received, causes the second supply means to supply the treat at predetermined intervals, causes the sixth detection means to detect the amount of treat at the start and end of each predetermined interval, calculates the amount of treat lost, determines that the small herbivore has gastrointestinal stasis on the condition that the amount of treat lost has not decreased, and determines that the small herbivore does not have gastrointestinal stasis on the condition that the amount of treat lost is not zero. For this reason, the controller 20 executes steps S6, S11 to S13 in Figure 4, and steps S29 and S31 to S36 in Figure 5. In this execution, steps S1 to S2, S7, S10, S14 to S17 in Figure 4, steps S18 to S28, S30, S37 to S38 in Figure 5, and steps S39 to S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted.

[0111] [Note 13] A health management system for small herbivores, as described in Appendix 6, comprising a reservation means for transmitting a signal to make an appointment at a veterinary hospital, wherein the controller, on the condition that it has determined the small herbivore has gastrointestinal stasis, causes the reservation means to transmit a signal to make an appointment at a veterinary hospital. For this reason, the controller 20 executes steps S36 to S37 in Figure 5. In this execution, steps S1 to S17 in Figure 4, steps S18 to S35 and S38 in Figure 5, and steps S39 to S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted.

[0112] [Note 14] The small herbivore health management system described in Appendix 14 comprises a cage for the small herbivore, an eighth detection means for detecting whether or not the small herbivore is in the cage, and a suction fan for sucking up and collecting the small herbivore's shed hair from inside the cage. The controller, on the condition that the eighth detection means detects that the small herbivore is not in the cage, causes the suction fan to suck up and collect the small herbivore's shed hair from inside the cage. For this reason, the controller 20 performs steps S39 and S40 in Figure 5. In performing this, steps S1 to S17 in Figure 4, steps S18 to S38 in Figure 5, and step S41 in Figure 6 can be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0113] 1…Rabbit health management system 2…Cage 3, 41, 42... wire mesh 4…Feeder 4a... Feeding container 4b…Feeding tray 5…Water dispenser 5a...Water storage tank 5b...Water supply nozzle 5c... scale markings 6... Suction fan 7... Doors 10... Hard stool storage 11…First sorting tube 12...Second sorting tube 13... Feces tray 14…First guide plate 15...First urine sheet 16…Second guide plate 17…Environmental sensors 20… Controller 24…Imaging Department 29... Stand 30…Animal hospital reservation website 31...First sensor 32…Intermediate sensor 33...Second sensor 34…Feed quantity sensor 43...Third guide plate 44…Fourth guide plate 45... Second urine pad 46...Third urine sheet 47, 48...Cecal stool measuring section 49... Hard stool sensor 50…5th guide plate 51, 52...Type identification slots

Claims

1. A first detection means for detecting whether the hard feces of a small herbivore are smaller than a first size, Equipped with a controller, The above controller is A health management system for small herbivores that determines that a small herbivore may have gastrointestinal stasis, provided that the first detection means detects that the hard stool of the small herbivore is smaller than the first size.

2. The above-mentioned first detection means is A first through-hole through which only hard stool of size less than the first size described above can pass, It has a first sensor that detects hard stool that has passed through the first through-hole, A health management system for small herbivores according to claim 1, wherein when the first sensor detects hard stool, it is detected that the hard stool is smaller than the first size.

3. The system includes a second detection means for detecting whether the hard stool is larger than the first size, specifically a second size or larger. The above controller is A health management system for small herbivores according to claim 1, wherein the second detection means determines that the small herbivore is not suffering from gastrointestinal stasis, provided that the second detection means detects the hard stool to be of the second size or larger.

4. The second detection means described above is A second through-hole through which only the above-mentioned hard stool of size less than the second size can pass, It has a second sensor for detecting the hard stool that could not pass through the second through-hole, A health management system for small herbivores according to claim 3, wherein when the second sensor detects the hard stool, it is detected that the hard stool is of the second size or larger.

5. The above controller is A health management system for small herbivores according to claim 3, wherein the first detection means detects that the hard stool of the small herbivore is larger than the first size, and the second detection means detects that the hard stool of the small herbivore is smaller than the second size, and a predetermined exclusion condition is met, and the small herbivore is determined to have a possibility of gastrointestinal stasis.

6. A health management system for small herbivores comprising at least one of a first configuration and a second configuration, The first configuration described above has a first memory that stores a reference age and the age of the small herbivore, The second configuration described above is: A third detection means for detecting temperature and humidity, It has a second memory that stores a reference temperature and a reference humidity, The above controller is Provided that the above-mentioned first configuration is provided, Assuming that the age of the above-mentioned small herbivores is equal to or greater than the above-mentioned standard age, it is determined that the above exclusion conditions are met. Provided that the above second configuration is provided, A health management system for small herbivores according to claim 5, wherein the exclusion condition is determined to be satisfied on the condition that the temperature detected by the third detection means is equal to or greater than the standard temperature, or the humidity detected by the third detection means is equal to or greater than the standard humidity.

7. The system includes a fourth detection means for detecting whether or not the above-mentioned small herbivore has defecated, The above controller is A health management system for small herbivores according to claim 1, wherein, at predetermined intervals, the fourth detection means detects that the small herbivore has not defecated a predetermined number of consecutive times, and the system determines that the small herbivore has gastrointestinal stasis.

8. The wire mesh on which the above-mentioned small herbivores are placed, The system includes a fifth detection means for detecting the feces of small herbivores on the wire mesh, The mesh size of the wire mesh described above is large enough to allow the hard feces of the small herbivorous animals to pass through. The above controller is A health management system for small herbivores according to claim 3, wherein, on the condition that the fifth detection means detects the feces of a small herbivore on the wire mesh, it is determined that the small herbivore may have gastrointestinal stasis.

9. A health management system for small herbivores comprising at least one of a third configuration and a fourth configuration, The third configuration described above is, A feeder that holds food for small herbivores, A sixth detection means for detecting the amount of feed held by the above-mentioned feeder, It has a third memory that stores a first reference amount, The fourth configuration described above is: A water dispenser that holds drinking water, A seventh detection means for detecting the amount of water held by the water dispenser, It has a third memory that stores a second reference amount, The above controller is Provided that the above third configuration is provided, At predetermined intervals, the sixth detection means is instructed to detect the amount of feed at the start and end of the period, the amount of decrease in the amount of feed during the period is calculated, and if the amount of decrease in the amount of feed is equal to or greater than the first standard amount, it is determined that the small herbivore does not have gastrointestinal stasis. Provided that the above fourth configuration is provided, A health management system for small herbivores according to claim 1, wherein, at the beginning and end of each predetermined period, the seventh detection means is instructed to detect the amount of water, the amount of decrease in the amount of water during the period is calculated, and it is determined that the small herbivore is not suffering from gastrointestinal stasis, provided that the amount of decrease in the amount of water is equal to or greater than the second standard amount.

10. A feeder that holds food for small herbivores, The above feeder is equipped with a first supply means for supplying at least one type of forage grass from among Italian ryegrass, oat hay, wheat hay, barley, and alfalfa, as a fragrant forage grass. The above controller is A health management system for small herbivores according to claims 1, 5, and 8, wherein, on the condition that the small herbivore is judged to be at risk of gastrointestinal stasis, the first supply means is supplied with the fragrant pasture grass at predetermined intervals.

11. A sixth detection means for detecting the amount of feed held by the above-mentioned feeder, It comprises a third memory for storing a first reference amount, The above controller is At each predetermined period, at the start and end of the period, the sixth detection means is made to detect the amount of fragrant grass used as feed, and the amount of fragrant grass reduced is calculated. Assuming that the above-mentioned fragrant pasture grass has not decreased, the above-mentioned small herbivore was judged to be suffering from gastrointestinal stasis. A health management system for small herbivores according to claim 10, wherein the amount of reduction of the above-mentioned fragrant pasture is equal to or greater than the above-mentioned first standard amount, and the small herbivore is determined not to have gastrointestinal stasis.

12. The above-mentioned small herbivores have a notification system to alert people when they need care, A reception method for receiving input indicating that the above-mentioned small herbivorous animal has received the above-mentioned care, The above-mentioned feeder is further equipped with a second supplying means for supplying at least one type of treat, such as fruit and dried leaves, as a fibrous treat. The above controller is Provided that the amount of the above-mentioned fragrant pasture grass decreases to more than zero and is below the above-mentioned first standard amount, the notification means shall be instructed to notify that the above-mentioned small herbivore requires the above-mentioned care. After the above notification, provided that the above receiving means does not receive input indicating that the small herbivore has received the above care, the above second supply means shall supply the above treat at predetermined intervals. At each predetermined period, the sixth detection means is made to detect the amount of treats at the start and end of the period, and the amount of treats consumed is calculated. Assuming that the above-mentioned snacks have not decreased, the above-mentioned small herbivore is judged to have gastrointestinal stasis. A health management system for small herbivores according to claim 11, wherein the small herbivore is determined not to have gastrointestinal stasis, provided that the amount of the above-mentioned treats consumed is not zero.

13. It includes a reservation means for transmitting a signal to make an appointment for a visit to a veterinary hospital, The above controller is A health management system for small herbivores according to claim 6, wherein, on the condition that the small herbivore is determined to have gastrointestinal stasis, the reservation means transmits a signal to make a reservation for a visit to a veterinary hospital.

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