Microchipping of pets in India
Compiled & edited by- DR. RK SINGH, JAMSHEDPUR
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 radiowaves 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.
A microchip bears details regarding the pet parent and essential information on the pet. Though this chip will not be able to trace a lost or stolen pet, the pet may be easily identified by scanning the chip. .”
Data stored
“With microchipping, the entire data of the dog’s history, his/her pedigree (who the dog’s parents and grandparents were) – all of this data is stored in the microchip. Four to five generations’ data can be stored in the chip.”
Microchips may be conducive in the prevention of the falsification of pedigrees and may deter unprincipled breeders from applying for more than the permissible limit of registration papers.
A microchip is a passive radio frequency identification device. It remains inactive unless powered with the help of a scanner. The wave of the scanner instantly reveals all the information stored in it.
Procedure
First and foremost, your dog must be registered with the KCI. The truth, however is that many flout this rule. To register your dog, you need to bring him/ her to the camp of the KCI, fill out a registration form and apply for a subscription for the Indian Kennel Gazette. Three coloured photographs of the dog are compulsory; these pictures may be taken at the club with a fee. A KCI expert will attest the form, post which your dog will be registered. In two to three months of time, registration papers will reach your address.
As per internet sources, registration of an imported dog is Rs 1124 and of an unknown pedigree is Rs 450. The price of registering a litter of puppies ranges from Rs 450 to Rs 993. Payments may only be made via demand draft or cheque
“A KCI registered dog / pup gets a microchip number along with its registration number.”
“The Kennel Club gives a syringe in which there’s a small chip. Like an injection, the vet injects it into the skin. There are no side-effects whatsoever. The chip lasts for the entire lifespan of the pet. Any animal can be micro chipped. However, mainly pet dogs and cattle are being microchipped in India nowadays.” The microchip is sunk in the skin under the shoulder blades of the dog. The pain felt by your pet will be no more than the prick of an injection.
Horses are microchipped on the left side of the neck and birds in their breast plates. Birds may be needing general anaesthesia for the procedure.
Caution
Not many in India are aware of animals being micro chipped. The chip will only be activated under the purview of a scanner. So don’t rely just on the microchip for your pet to be found in case he/ she is lost. Ensure that he/ she wears a collar which clearly bears an ID tag as well.
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.
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.
Some microchips used in research laboratories and for microchipping some livestock and horses also transmit information about the animal’s body temperature.
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 in order to give you the best chances of getting your pet back. If that information is missing or incorrect, your chances of getting your pet back are dramatically reduced.
The frequency of a microchip actually refers to the frequency of the radiowave given off by the scanner that activates and reads the microchip. Examples of microchip frequencies used in the U.S. include 125 kiloHertz (kHz), 128 kHz, and 134.2 kHz.
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.
The ISO standard frequency is 134.2 kHz.
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.
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.
A study of more than 7,700 stray animals at animal shelters showed that dogs without microchips were returned to their owners 21.9% of the time, whereas microchipped dogs were returned to their owners 52.2% of the time. Cats without microchips were reunited with their owners only 1.8% of the time, whereas microchipped cats went back home 38.5% of the time. (Lord et al, JAVMA, July 15, 2009) For microchipped animals that weren’t returned to their owners, most of the time it was due to incorrect owner information (or no owner information) in the microchip registry database – so don’t forget to register and keep your information updated.
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.
Most advance pet /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.
It looks like a simple-enough procedure to implant a microchip – after all, it’s just like giving an injection, right? Well, yes and no. Although it looks like a simple injection, it is very important that the microchip is implanted properly. Using too much force, placing the needle too deeply, or placing it in the wrong location can not only make it difficult to detect or read the microchip in the future, but it can also cause life-threatening problems. Microchips should really be implanted under supervision by a veterinarian, because veterinarians know where the microchips should be placed, know how to place them, and know how to recognize the signs of a problem and treat one if it occurs.
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.
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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.
Reference-On Request
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