By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2010-08-20 17:01:23 | Word Count: 664
Any animal, from a gerbil to a kitten to a horse or cow, is going to need to be weighed at some point. But although the uses might be different, an animal platform scale should have the same quality design and construction as an industrial or commercial scale.
Veterinary platform scales are a necessary piece of equipment in any vets office. A typical platform scale for a vet might have a corrosion free platform of 22 x 44 inches, a 500 lb capacity (measured in 0.1 lb increments), a rubber mat for traction and comfort for the animal, and a wall-mountable display with a 8-foot flexible cable. Such scales can be low-profile, less than two inches off the floor (important when trying to handle a dog or cat that might be injured, sick or stressed).
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Larger animals such as cattle, horses and donkeys obviously need a larger, higher-capacity scale. 2500 lb capacity scales are not uncommon for equine or bovine applications. Some equine scales can be used in the field with a rechargeable battery that can give as much as 20 hours of use. For farmers or ranchers, of course, such a scale can be used for many other applications such as bulk containers, feed carts, feed bags, shipping and receiving, pets or more. It is important for these type of scales to include a non-skid rubber mat to prevent accidental slips and falls (for either humans or animals) and for ease on hooves.
Veterinary offices might use a smaller scale for cats and small animals. These are often similar to the familiar "baby scale" of a doctors office, with features such as:
• Hold feature that will average and hold an unstable weight (such as a skittish cat), and then display it and keep it on the digital display
• Optional rechargeable battery or AC operation
• Capacity of 50-100 lbs
• Stainless or plastic tray with beveled edges
• 1.0” digital LCD display
• Weight in kilogram or pound/ounce units
• Waterproof and easy to clean
• Weights in 1/10 lb increments
As with any scale application, durability and accuracy are important. Look for a corrosion free platform and stainless-steel load cells, and a unit that comes pre-calibrated (and can easily be recalibrated by the user). Heavier duty animal platform scales should have the load cells encased in a welded frame for water resistance and durability. Good quality animal platform scales should also come with a 3 year warranty. More sophisticated animal platform scales will also include a USB connection and software that can be integrated into the veterinarians office computer. With all of these features, you should be able to find yourself an animal platform scale for veterinary, agricultural, farming or ranching use that will provide years of trouble-free, accurate service.
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