Automated Method and System for Introducing Molecular Iodine into Drinking Water

Abstract

A system for delivering molecular iodine or other substance into a pet's drinking water on a daily basis without exceeding the safe amount allowed for the pet. The system delivers a particular amount of molecular iodine into the pet water supply to achieve maximum benefit of I 2 to reduce or eliminate bad pet breath and minimize total iodine in the pet diet so that 20-40 μg/mL/Kg/day iodine is consumed for optimum thyroid health. The preferred method is to use a solution created by dissolving iodine crystals in absolute ethanol. The iodine will only be in solution as I 2 for a short time as it undergoes out gassing and hydrolysis at neutral pH. The present invention removes the iodine from the drinking water after the pet drinks. Therefore, during the day, pets will get no additional iodine—only fresh water. Each enrolled pet is electronically recognized by the system.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of injecting molecular iodine into a pet's drinking water comprising:
 automatically identifying a particular pet approaching a drinking bowl producing a pet identification;   injecting a predetermined amount of molecular iodine into said drinking bowl for that particular pet, said predetermined amount determined by said pet identification;   removing iodine from said drinking bowl when said pet leaves.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said identifying is done with an RFID tag and RF ID reader. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising also injecting a vitamin, nutrient or drug into said drinking bowl. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a particular pet is given iodine only on a predetermined schedule. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for injecting a particular substance into pet drinking water comprising:
 a pet-access drinking container;   a filter cartridge;   a circulation pump, wherein said circulation pump is adapted to pass water from said drinking container through said filter cartridge;   a substance dispenser adapted to dispense a chemical solution into said drinking container;   a pet identification module;   a processor programmed use said pet identification module to recognize a particular pet and then dispense a predetermined amount of said chemical solution from said substance dispenser into said drinking container;   said processor also programmed to activate said circulation pump removing said chemical substance from said drinking container when said particular pet leaves said apparatus.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said dispenser dispenses a solution of molecular iodine. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said chemical substance is a vitamin or nutrient. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said pet identification module contains an RF ID reader. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a second substance dispenser. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said second substance dispenser dispenses a vitamin, nutrient or drug. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a second substance dispenser. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said substance dispenser dispenses a vitamin, nutrient or drug and said second substance dispenser dispenses molecular iodine.