Abstract: A ship steering device includes a handle which is mechanically separated from a rudder mechanism, a steering angle detecting unit that detects a steering angle of the handle, a rudder motor that drives the rudder mechanism, and a turn controller that controls, based on a steering characteristics map which associates a basic relation between the steering angle and a turn angle, the rudder motor so as to obtain the turn angle in accordance with the steering angle. The steering characteristics map has a characteristic such that, in a second steering region where the steering angle is larger than the steering angle in a first steering region, a change amount of the turn angle relative to the steering angle is large with respect to the first steering region where the steering angle is set from zero in advance.

Abstract: An agent for improving mobility and general health of senior companion animals is provided whereby said agent contains one or more substances selected from the group consisting of a GABAA receptor agonist, a GABAB receptor agonist and a GABAA receptor enhancing substance as an active ingredient. Compositions containing said agent, including a pet food additive and a pet food, as well as methods of administering said compositions to senior companion animals are also provided.

Abstract: A preparation or a pet food comprising an edible carboxylic acid, edible hydroxycarboxylic acid such as fumaric acid or a salt thereof is administered or fed to a pet. The content of the edible organic acid or a salt thereof is, in terms of the edible organic acid, about 0.1 to 99.9% by weight for the preparation such as a solid preparation and about 0.01 to 10% by weight for the pet food such as a dry food. The dose of the edible organic acid or a salt thereof is, in terms of the edible organic acid, about 5 to 500 mg/day/kg of body weight. The preparation and pet food have an improved palatability and safety in comparison with a conventional urine-acidifying agent, thus the administration or feeding of said preparation or pet food prevent or treat urinary calculosis in a pet even in a small amount.