According to statistics, one in every 3 pets become lost at some point in their
life time. That alone is probably a great reason to have a Microchip put into
your pet. I started to write my monthly information blog but while doing my
research I found that everything I wanted to tell you was included in the fact
sheet from the American Veterinary Medical Association. So I am giving them
complete credit for giving all of you some great information about
microchipping your pet. Don’t hesitate to call if you have further questions or
want to schedule an appointment to microchip your pet.
Q: What is a microchip?
A: A microchip is a small, electronic chip enclosed in a glass cylinder that is about the
same size as a grain of rice. The microchip itself does not have a battery—it is activated
by a scanner that is passed over the area, and the radio waves put out by the scanner
activate the chip. The chip transmits the identification number to the scanner, which
displays the number on the screen. The microchip itself is also called a transponder.
Q: How is a microchip implanted into an animal? Is it painful? Does it require
surgery or anesthesia?
A: It is injected under the skin using a hypodermic needle. It is no more painful than a
typical injection, although the needle is slightly larger than those used for injection. No
surgery or anesthesia is required—a microchip can be implanted during a routine
veterinary office visit. If your pet is already under anesthesia for a procedure, such as
neutering or spaying, the microchip can often be implanted while they're still under
anesthesia.
Q: What kind of information is contained in the microchip? Is there a tracking
device in it? Will it store my pet's medical information?
A: The microchips presently used in pets only contain identification numbers. No, the
microchip is not a GPS device and cannot track your animal if it gets lost. Although the
present technology microchip itself does not contain your pet's medical information,
some microchip registration databases will allow you to store that information in the
database for quick reference.
Q: Should I be concerned about my privacy if my pet is microchipped? Will
someone be able to track me down?
A: You don't need to be concerned about your privacy. The information you provide to
the manufacturer's microchip registry will be used to contact you in the event your pet is
found and their microchip is scanned. In most cases, you can choose to opt in or opt out
of other communications (such as newsletters or advertisements) from the
manufacturer. The only information about you contained in the database is the
information that you choose to provide when you register the chip or update your
information. There are protections in place so that a random person can't just look up an
owner's identification.
Remember that having the microchip placed is only the first step, and the microchip
must be registered to give you the best chance of getting your pet back. If that
information is missing or incorrect, your chances of getting your pet back are
dramatically reduced.
Q: I've heard about something called "ISO standard." What does that mean?
A: The International Standards Organization, or ISO, has approved and recommended
a global standard for microchips. The global standard is intended to create an
identification system that is consistent worldwide. For example, if a dog was implanted
with an ISO standard microchip in the U.S. travels to Europe with its owners and
becomes lost, the ISO standard scanners in Europe would be able to read the dog's
microchip. If the dog was implanted with a non-ISO microchip and the ISO scanner was
not forward- and backward-reading (universal), the dog's microchip might not be
detected or be read by the scanner. Buellton Vet uses ISO microchips.
The ISO standard frequency is 134.2 kHz.
Q: What are universal (forward- and backward-reading) scanners? How do they
differ from other scanners?
A: Forward-reading scanners only detect 134.2 kHz (ISO standard) microchips but will
not detect 125 kHz or 128 kHz (non-ISO standard) microchips. Universal scanners, also
called forward- and backward-reading scanners, detect all microchip frequencies. The
main advantage of universal scanners is the improved chances of detecting and reading
a microchip, regardless of the frequency. It also eliminates the need for multiple
scanners with multiple frequencies. Buellton Vet’s Scanner is Universal.
Q: How does a microchip help reunite a lost animal with its owner?
A: When an animal is found and taken to a shelter or veterinary clinic, one of the first
things they do is scan the animal for a microchip. If they find a microchip, and if the
microchip registry has accurate information, they can quickly find the animal's owner.
Q: Will a microchip really make it more likely for me to get my pet back if it is
lost?
A: Definitely! In fact, a study of more than 7,700 stray animals at animal shelters in 23
states showed that microchipped animals are far more likely to be returned to their
owners. In that study, microchipped stray dogs were returned to their owners at more
than double the overall rate for all stray dogs (both microchipped and not microchipped).
For stray cats, the difference in return rates was even more dramatic.
For microchipped animals that weren't returned to their owners, the most common
reason was an incorrect or disconnected owner telephone number in the microchip
registry database. So don't forget to register your pet’s microchip uand keep your
contact information up to date.
Q: Does a microchip replace identification tags and rabies tags?
A: Absolutely not. Microchips are great for permanent identification that is tamper-proof,
but nothing replaces a collar with up-to-date identification tags. If a pet is wearing a
collar with tags when it's lost, it's often a very quick process to read the tag and contact
the owner; however, the information on the tags needs to be accurate and up to date.
But if a pet is not wearing a collar and tags, the tag’s information has worn off, or if the
collar is lost or removed, then the presence of a microchip might be the only way the
pet's owner can be found.
Your pet's rabies tag should always be on its collar, so people can quickly see that your
pet has been vaccinated for this deadly disease. Rabies tag numbers also allow tracing
of animals and identification of a lost animal's owner, but it can be hard to have a rabies
number traced after veterinary clinics or county offices are closed for the day. The
microchip databases are online or telephone-accessed databases and are available
24/7/365.
Q: I just adopted a pet from the animal shelter. Is it microchipped? How can I find
out?
A: If the shelter scanned the animal, they should be able to tell you if it is microchipped.
Some shelters implant microchips into every animal they adopt out, so check with the
shelter and find out your new pet's microchip number so you can get it registered in your
name.
Most veterinary clinics have microchip scanners, and your veterinarian can scan your
new pet for a microchip when you take your new pet for its veterinary checkup.
Microchips show up on radiographs (x-rays), so that's another way to look for one.
Q: Why should I have my animals microchipped?
A: The best reason to have your animals microchipped is the improved chance that
you'll get your animal back if it becomes lost or stolen.
Q: I want to get my animal(s) microchipped. Where do I go?
A: To your veterinarian, of course! Most veterinary clinics keep microchips on hand; so,
it is likely that your pet can be implanted with a microchip the same day as your
appointment. Sometimes local shelters or businesses will host a microchipping event,
too.
Q: Once the microchip has been implanted, what do I do? Is there any sort of
maintenance needed?
A: There really is no maintenance required for microchips themselves, although you do
need to register the microchip and keep your contact information up to date in the
microchip registration database. If you notice any abnormalities at the site where the
microchip was implanted, such as drainage (oozing) or swelling, contact your
veterinarian. Ideally, the microchip should be scanned during your animal's regular
wellness/preventive care exams to make sure that it's still in place and working as it
should.
Q: My pet has two different frequency microchips implanted. Do I need to have
one removed? Will they interfere with each other? Which microchip will be
detected by the scanner?
A: No, you do not need to have one of the microchips removed and no, they will not
interfere with each other. The microchip detected by the scanner will depend on the
scanner used – if it is a universal (forward- and backward-reading) scanner, it will
probably detect each chip as it is passed over it. To detect the other chip, the scanner
has to be reset and passed over the area where it is located. If it is a scanner that only
reads one microchip frequency, it will only detect a microchip of that specific frequency
and will not detect or read the other microchip.
If you know your pet has more than one microchip implanted, make sure you keep the
database information updated for each microchip. People don't routinely assume there's
more than one microchip (because it is very uncommon), so they will try to find the
owner based on the registry number of the microchip they detect.
Q: My pet has a non-ISO standard, 125 kHz microchip implanted, and I want to
have it implanted with an ISO standard, 134 kHz microchip. Can I do that?
A: Sure you can. Both chips will function normally. If your pet is scanned with a scanner
that only reads 125 kHz chips, only the 125 kHz chip will be detected. If your pet is
scanned with a universal (forward- and backward-reading) scanner, it could detect one
or both chips separately (see the question above this one for more information).
Q: I'm relocating to a country that requires ISO chips, and my pet does not have
an ISO chip or doesn't have a microchip at all. What do I need to do?
A: Your pet will need to be implanted with an ISO microchip before it will be allowed into
that country. But that's not the only thing you need to know: countries differ widely on
their importation rules, including different regulations about required vaccinations and
quarantine periods once the animal enters that country. If you do some research and
preparation, your pet's relocation can go smoothly. Contact the country of origin to
determine their requirements regarding microchips as well as vaccinations, certificates,
etc. Alternatively, you can contact an experienced animal shipper who is well-versed in
the processes and regulations affecting animal shipment.
Q: Why isn't it a requirement that all shelters and veterinary clinics use the same
microchips and readers? Or, if there are different frequencies of microchips and
each requires a separate scanner, why aren't they required to have one of each
scanner so microchips are never missed?
A: There is no federal or state regulation of microchip standards in the U.S., and
different manufacturers are able to produce and patent different microchip technologies
with different frequencies. Because of market competition, animal shelters and
veterinary clinics are able to choose from several microchip manufacturers and
scanners. Microchip scanners are relatively expensive, and it is often cost prohibitive
keep one or more of each type of microchip scanner.
This problem can be solved by the use of universal microchip scanners, which are
readily available. The use of ISO standard microchips would be a good step in
developing a consistent microchipping system in the U.S.
Q: When I have my pet microchipped, is there one central database that registers
the information and makes it available to animal shelters and veterinary clinics in
case my pet is lost or stolen?
A: At this time, there is not a central database in the U.S. for registering microchips;
each manufacturer maintains its own database (or has it managed by someone else).
Because the ISO standards for identification codes have not been adopted in the U.S.,
the microchips must be registered with their individual registries.
Fortunately, microchip scanners display the name of the microchip's manufacturer when
the microchip is read. Therefore, the likelihood that an animal cannot be identified from
its microchip number is very low—that is, unless your pet's microchip has not been
registered or the information is not accurate.
In 2009, the American Animal Hospital Association launched their Universal Pet
Microchip Lookup Tool (www.petmicrochiplookup.org), which provides a listing of the
manufacturer with which the microchip's code is associated as well as if the chip
information is found in participating registries. The database does not provide owner
information for the microchip – the user must contact the manufacturer/database
associated with that microchip.
A number of free microchip databases have been launched over the past few years, but
many of these databases are not tied directly to the manufacturers' databases.
Fortunately, some of these databases are integrated into the AAHA Universal Pet
Microchip Lookup Tool. Any database with which you register your pet's microchip
needs to be regularly updated, and the critical database to keep up to date is the one
maintained by the microchip manufacturer.
Q: What are some of the problems associated with microchips? How common are
they?
A: The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) maintains a database of
adverse reactions to microchips. Since the database was started in 1996, over 4 million
animals have been microchipped and only 391 adverse reactions have been reported.
Of these reactions, migration of the microchip from its original implantation site is the
most common problem reported. Other problems, such as failure of the microchip, hair
loss, infection, swelling, and tumor formation, were reported in much lower numbers.
Q: What should I do to "maintain" my pet's microchip?
A: Once your pet is microchipped, there are only three things you need to do: 1) make
sure the microchip is registered; 2) ask your veterinarian to scan your pet's microchip at
least once per year to make sure the microchip is still functioning and can be detected;
and 3) keep your registration information up to date.
If you've moved, or if any of your information (especially your phone number) has
changed, make sure you update your microchip registration in the manufacturer's
database as soon as possible.