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 sterile syringe. 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 regular visit to your veterinarian. If your pet is already undergoing anesthesia for a procedure, such as neutering or spaying or dental cleaning, the microchip often can be implanted while the pet is 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. ISO microchips, now used in all countries, each have a unique 15 digit number. The microchip is not a GPS device and cannot track your animal if he/she gets lost. Although the microchip itself does not contain your pet's medical information, some countries have microchip registration databases which allow you to store that information in the database for quick reference. China does not have a national pet microchip database but your pet hospital can store your pet’s microchip information in their medical records.
In China, the microchip is used to match the animal’s microchip number with the vaccination records, rabies antibody titre test reports and other travel documents. The microchip number and insertion date or scan date should be entered into all of the pet’s vaccination and other records.
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 or cat implanted with an ISO-standard microchip in China travels to USA/Canada or to the EU/UK with its owners and becomes lost, the ISO-standard scanners in these countries would be able to read the pet’s microchip. If the pet was implanted with a non-ISO microchip and the ISO scanner was not a universal scanner (forward- and backward-reading scanner), the pet's microchip might not be detected or read by the scanner.
The ISO standard frequency is 134.2 kHz.
Q: Can you tell where the microchip was manufactured based on its number?
A:The microchip number does not always denote the country of manufacture. While many of the locally manufactured microchips in China begin with the number “1,” they can also begin with the number “9” or other numbers. Microchips with numbers beginning with "9" are used in China and many other countries.
ICVS uses only ISO microchips manufactured in Germany which are quality assured and last the lifetime of the pet. If you are not in Beijing, you may order an ISO microchip from ICVS and your local veterinarian can implant the microchip for your pet.
Above: Universal scanners are used at ICVS to check microchips on all pets.
Q: What are universal scanners? How do they differ from other scanners?
A: Most ISO scanners only detect 134.2 kHz (ISO standard, 15 digit) microchips, but will not detect 125 kHz or 128 kHz (non-ISO standard, AVID) microchips. Universal scanners, also called forward- and backward-reading scanners, detect all microchip frequencies. The main advantage of universal scanners is the improved chance of detecting and reading a microchip, regardless of the frequency. It also eliminates the need for multiple scanners with multiple frequencies. ICVS uses universal microchip scanners that can scan all ISO and non-ISO microchips.
Q: How does a microchip help reunite a lost animal with its owner?
A: When an animal is found and taken to a veterinary hospital, the pet should be scanned for a microchip. If a microchip is found, then this pet is likely an owned pet and there may be an owner looking for the pet.
In China, the microchip number is used to identify the animal and allows the owner to prove ownership of the pet. Most rescuers who find pets with microchips will only release the pet to the owner who can provide the microchip number of the pet.
Many breeds of cats and dogs look similar (e.g., white cats, black cats, tabby cats, orange/white cats, British Shorthair cats, Mini Schnauzers, Corgis, Shiba Inus, Bichon Frises, Huskies, Golden Retrievers, etc.). If your pet is lost and taken in by a rescuer or taken to a shelter or if your dog is taken to the police station’s dog pound, the most reliable way to identify your pet is to confirm the microchip number.
Q: Will a microchip really make it more likely for me to get my pet back if it is lost?
A: Yes! While China does not yet have a national pet microchip database registry, having a microchipped pet still helps to identify your pet and to prove ownership. If you are taking your pet overseas, contact your local veterinarian in your destination country to find a national pet microchip database registry. You can register your pet’s microchip in the online databases of these companies in your destination country and renew the registration annually.
Q: Does a microchip replace identification tags and rabies tags?
A: It does 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 is lost, it is a very quick process to read the tag and contact the owner—if the information on the tag is accurate. But if a pet is not wearing a collar and tags, or if the collar is lost or removed, then the presence of a microchip might be the only way to identify the pet once found.
Your dog’s rabies ID tag should always be on its collar, so people can quickly see that your pet has been vaccinated for this deadly disease. Rabies ID tag numbers also allow tracing of dogs and identification of a lost dog's owner.
Q: I just adopted a pet from the animal shelter. Is it microchipped? How can I find out?
A: Most animal hospitals have microchip scanners, and your veterinarian can scan your new pet for a microchip when you take your pet for its veterinary checkup.
Q: Why should I have my animals microchipped?
A: The best reason to have your animals microchipped is the improved chance that you will get your animal back if it becomes lost or stolen by proving ownership. Microchips are required by the Customs Bureau for pet export from China. Most destination countries also require microchips for pet import.
Q: I want to get my animal(s) microchipped. Where do I go?
A: To your ICVS veterinarian! ICVS only uses ISO microchips manufactured in Germany. The microchips are quality assured and read smoothly with ISO and universal scanners. ICVS can also ship (kuaidi) our German manufactured microchips to you in any city in China and your local veterinarian can implant the microchip. Should your local veterinarian have any questions, you may call ICVS and our veterinarians can provide guidance and answer any questions for your veterinarian. ICVS is open daily and our staff and veterinarians speak English and Chinese.
Contact ICVS to schedule a microchipping appointment or to order an ISO German manufactured microchip:
ICVS Tel: (010) 8456-1939, 8456-1940
E-mail: reception@ICVSASIA.com
ICVS dialog WeChat: ICVSASIA
Scan the QR code below to add ICVS on wechat:
Above: ICVS uses universal scanners to scan all pets for microchips.
International Center for Veterinary Services
No. 13-16 Rong Ke Gan Lan Cheng Shang Jie, Fu Tong Xi Da Jie, Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100102 (Across the street from the Mercedes Benz Tower & behind the Smile Angel Children’s Hospital)
地址：北京新天地国际动物医院, 北京市朝阳区望京阜通西大街融科橄榄城商街13-16号
CONTACT ICVS FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tel: (010) 8456-1939, 8456-1940
E-mail: reception@ICVSASIA.com
Web site: www.ICVSASIA.com
ICVS dialog WeChat: ICVSASIA
ICVS Official WeChat: ICVSCHINA
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