Microchipping in pets

Microchipping in pets

Sheikh Uzma Farooq¹, Aditya Sharma²

¹Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Khalsa College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Amritsar

²Department of Veterinary Pathology, Khalsa College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Amritsar

Abstract:

A microchip is asmall, electronic chip enclosed in a glass cylinder that resembles the size of a grain of rice. The microchip is also called as a transponder.It works on the passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system. Themicrochip does not have a battery, it is activated by a scanner that is passed over the area of skin where it is injected, and the radio waves put out by the scanner activate the chip. Microchip’s identification number is transferred to the scanner and further it displays the number on the screen. Microchip is implanted under the skin, usually right between the shoulder blades behind the neck. This is done using a hypodermic needle and doesn’t require any surgery or anaesthesia.The frequency of a microchip refers to the frequency of the radio wave given off by the scanner that activates and helps to readthe microchip. The ISO standard frequency is 134.2 kHz. This chip is linked to a database that has both owner’s as well as pet’s details and can be scanned by veterinarians and authorised scanners to reunite lost pets to their families. No maintenance is required once the chip is implanted under skin.Microchip should be inserted under the supervision of veterinarian.

Keywords: RFID, Battery, Frequency, Veterinarians, Scanners

Introduction:

A microchip is a small, electronic chip in a glass cylinder which resembles size of grain of rice and is used as a permanent method of identification Pet owners can reduce the risk of permanently losing their pets by using microchipping as it offers the benefit i.e. it cannot be altered , removed or lost. Microchip contains details of pet parent and important information on pet. Four to five generation’s data can be stored in chips. A microchip is a passive radio frequency identification device. There are three pillar components which are required for the microchip identification network to function properly. Firstly, microchip must be inserted under the animal’s skin. Secondly, if the pet is lost, it must be scanned with a device which is capable to detectand therefore displays the microchip’s unique identification number. Lastly, owner contact information must be up to date and available in a readily accessible database. Microchipping is mostly done in dogs and cats. Rabbits, horses, ferrets along with parrots and other animals can also be microchipped. The most common frequencies are 125-kHz, 128-kHz and 134.2-kHz. Mostly veterinarians  have two scanners or one universal scanner to put up the popular frequencies.The forward reading scanners can only detect 134.2 kHz microchips i.e. ISO standard frequency, but cannot detect non- ISO standard frequency microchips. Universal scanners are also called forward and backward reading scanners thus are capable of detecting all microchip frequencies. The main advantage of universal scanner is that it eliminates the need of multiple scanners. After the animal is microchipped, there are three things which should be taken care. Firstly, microchip must be registered. Secondly, scanning and detecting of chip by veterinarian is must at least once a year to check proper functioning of it. Thirdly, registration information of owner should be up to date.

Benefits

Microchipping pets is of great advantage. One of the major benefit is when your pet is separated from you and it’s better to be safe rather than separated. Microchipped dogs and cats are more likely to be reunited with their owners than pets without the chips. Thus, that’s the undeniable fact that microchips helped several hundreds of pets to reunite with their guardians.

Some of the benefits of microchipping your pets are as follows:

• Provides permanent identification to the pet.
• One can reunify with the pet after a natural disaster.
• It helps in quick reconnection with pets suffering from disease condition and requiring medications.

Problems

Common microchip problems are due to:

• Microchip is not registered.
• Microchip is registered to previous owner or organisation
• Microchip is registered to wrong animal.
• Registered contact details are incorrect.
• No answer to the registered phone number and unable to drop a message or sometimes able to leave message on registered contact which is not confirmed to be the owner’s.

Myths

• Microchips allows GPS to track your pet.
• Microchips procedure is painful for your animal.
• Microchips are not important for indoor pets.
• Microchip gets expired.
• Microchipping your pet can interfere with your privacy.
• Microchips can be used as the substitute for collar and other identification tags.

Some common microchip registries include

• Petlink
• Michelson Found Animals
• Petkey
• AKC Reunite
• PETtrac
• 24PetWatch
• Marrsmicrochip

Conclusion

Since 1980s, pet owners are taking the advantage of microchip technology as means of permanent identification , despite the fact , the technology did not gain reputation until a decade later. Till date, about 3.5 million animals have received microchip implants. National Microchipping month is held in June every year during which pet owners are encouraged about the benefits of microchipping. By law, all dogs over 8 weeks of age can be microchipped. There are high rates for return of pets who are microchipped to their owners but issues regarding to registration erode its overall potential.

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