Microchips for International Pet Relocations!
"My Veterinarian had trouble today finding my cat's microchip. Should I have them try again or insert another chip?"
We here at PetRelocation.com hear this question a lot! The solution is rather simple to solve, as obviously the microchip should still be implanted in the pet. We have yet to see a chip that is 'lost', but has more than likely migrated to another location within the animal.
The easiest way to find the 'lost' microchip, is to have the Veterinarian X-Ray your pet. They will instantly find the chip, as it is easily shown on the X-Ray results.
Many times, Veterinarians will use their scanner and run this device over the top of the pet, trying to locate the microchip that is usually implanted between the shoulders of the pet.
Since these chips can migrate within the body, it is best to have your Veterinarian scan for the chip on not only the top of your pet, but also its sides and under belly. You will then see that the chip has simply moved to another location within the pet.
Another issue is that the doctor who implanted the microchip is different than your current doctor who is doing the Health Exam. If your current Veterinarian is unsure of the type of chip used, they may be using the wrong scanner to locate the chip.
For example, there are basically two microchips that are the most used here in the United States. These microchips are HomeAgain & AVID - Each of these microchips, require different scanners to locate them. If you have a HomeAgain chip and your doctor has an AVID scanner - then you will most likely have problems finding the chip.
If you are inserting a new microchip, we suggest the following simple procedure:
1. Scan the Microchip before placing it in the animal.
* This is to make sure that the chip is active before it is implanted on the animal
2. Implant the Microchip in the animal
3. Scan the animal to verify the Microchip is correctly implanted and active once implanted in the animal
4. Place the microchip number on the Rabies vaccination certificate as well as the Rabies Vaccine Manufacturer name, Batch number and Vaccine Expiration date to confirm its validity.
5. All dates must be written in the ISO (International Standards): dd/mm/yyyy
For more information and helpful advice on micro chipping your pet, please contact us directly or visit our website at www.petrelocation.com