Pet microchipping is an essential aspect of modern pet care and safety. The tiny device, implanted under your pet’s skin, holds a unique identification number.
Authorities can scan the microchip to retrieve important information about your pet. Microchipping has become an important part of pet ownership in Australia.
Microchips play a crucial role in reuniting lost pets with their families, significantly increasing the chances of recovery if a pet goes missing.
For those planning to travel internationally with their pets, microchips are a mandatory requirement. Your pet must be microchipped to travel to and from Australia.
We’ve compiled a list of common questions about pet microchipping.
1. What is Pet Microchipping?
Pet microchipping involves implanting an electronic chip – about the size of a grain of rice – under your pet’s skin. This microchip is encased in a biocompatible glass cylinder and is typically implanted between the shoulder blades of your pet using a hypodermic needle.
The process is quick and similar to administering a vaccination, causing minimal discomfort to your pet.
The microchip contains a unique identification number crucial for pet identification.
When a scanner passes over the area where the microchip is implanted, the radio waves activate the chip. The chip then transmits the unique identification number to the scanner.
This number gets cross-referenced with a database containing the pet owner’s contact information. The microchip itself doesn’t have a battery and remains inactive until it’s scanned.
2. Why is Pet Microchipping Important for International Pet Travel?
Microchipping is a critical regulatory requirement for international pet travel. Nearly every country mandates pet microchipping before they can be imported.
Microchipping ensures each pet has a unique and permanent identification. This is essential for maintaining accurate records during the importation process.
The microchip must meet International Standards Organisation (ISO) specifications, specifically the 134.2 kHz frequency standard, to be accepted globally. Without this compliance, your pets may face denial of entry or import delays.
Microchips play a vital role in ensuring the security and identification of pets during international travel. Unlike collars and tags, which can be easily removed or lost, microchips provide a tamper-proof and permanent means of identification.
This is particularly important during the various stages of travel. Pets may need to be identified multiple times to verify their health status, vaccination records, and ownership details.
3. What Pet Microchip Do I Need for Travelling to Australia?
Australia has specific microchipping standards for pets entering the country.
Your pet must be implanted with a microchip easily read by an ISO-compatible reader. The microchip number should be 10 or 15 digits.
Microchip numbers starting with 999 aren’t acceptable. Because these microchips aren’t unique.
AVID microchips with 9-digit numbers aren’t acceptable. Because these microchips aren’t ISO-compatible.
Microchips are the only approved identification method. Your cat or dog should be scanned at each visit to the vet and before any pre-export blood sampling.
Your pet may be exported from Australia if the microchip number can’t be read or is inconsistent on import paperwork.
4. How Do Pet Microchips Work?
Pet microchips use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. This provides a unique identification method for pets.
The microchip itself is an electronic device, about the size of a grain of rice, encased in a biocompatible glass cylinder.
It contains a passive RFID transponder. This means it does not have its own power source. Instead, it remains “sleeping” until activated by a scanner.
The scanner emits a low-power radio signal when passing over the pet microchip. This signal activates the microchip, causing it to transmit its unique identification number back to the scanner.
The scanner displays this number, which can be cross-referenced with a database to retrieve the pet owner’s contact information.
5. How is the Microchip Implanted into My Pet?
Implanting a microchip into your pet is quick and relatively painless. The microchip gets inserted under the pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades, using a hypodermic needle.
The procedure is similar to administering a vaccination and does not require surgery or anesthesia. The needle used for the implantation is slightly larger than those used for standard injections. But the process takes seconds and causes minimal discomfort to your pet.
After implanting the microchip, your veterinarian will scan the area with a microchip scanner. This ensures the chip is functioning correctly.
This post-implantation check verifies that the unique identification number can be read and that the chip is properly placed.
6. Are Pet Microchip Frequencies Important?
Pet microchips operate at different radio frequencies and need different scanners to read them. The most common frequencies used for pet microchips are 125 kHz, 128 kHz, and 134.2 kHz.
The International Standards Organisation (ISO) has established a global standard for pet microchips. This ensures compatibility and reliability across different countries.
The ISO standard specifies the use of the 134.2 kHz frequency for pet microchips. ISO-compatible pet microchips have been widely adopted internationally.
For instance, pets entering Australia must have a microchip that can be read by an ISO-compatible microchip reader.
7. How do I Register the Pet Microchip?
- Receive Documentation: After the microchip is implanted, your veterinarian will provide you with documentation that includes the microchip’s unique identification number.
- Choose a Registry: Select a pet microchip registry to register your pet’s microchip. Your vet might recommend a specific registry or provide you with options.
- Complete the Registration Form: Fill out the registration form with your contact information and your pet’s details. This can usually be done online through the registry’s website.
- Submit the Registration: Submit the completed registration form along with any required fees. Some veterinarians may complete the registration on your behalf.
- Update Information: Ensure that you update the registry with any changes to your contact information to keep the registration current and accurate.
Registering the microchip is essential for its effectiveness. An unregistered microchip is essentially useless because it contains no information about the pet or its owner.
Say your pet gets lost and is found. A registered microchip allows vets, shelters and animal control officers to access your contact details and quickly reunite you with your pet.
Without registration, there’s no way to identify or contact the owner.
Popular Registries in Australia
In Australia, several registries are commonly used to register pet microchips. These registries maintain databases that are accessible to vets and animal shelters:
- Central Animal Records: One of the largest microchip registries in Australia, providing extensive services for pet registration and recovery.
- Australasian Animal Registry: A well-established registry that offers comprehensive pet identification and recovery services.
- Petsafe: A registry that provides a secure database for storing pet and owner information.
- Global Micro Registry: Offers international compatibility for pets that may travel outside of Australia.
- HomeSafeID: Another popular registry providing reliable pet recovery services.
8. Can Pet Microchips Help Find Lost Pets?
Yes, absolutely! Pet microchips are a highly effective tool for reuniting lost pets with their owners.
Say someone finds your pet and takes it to a vet, animal shelter, or animal control officer. Scanning the pet for a microchip is the first step they take.
The microchip transmits a unique identification number to the scanner. They can then check this number against a database to retrieve your contact information.
A study from the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine found:
Cats with microchips were 20 times more likely to be returned home than those without. Dogs with microchips were 2.5 times more likely to be returned home than those without.
9. How Long Do Pet Microchips Last?
Pet microchips are designed to last for the lifetime of your pet. These tiny devices are durable and resilient, ensuring they remain functional for many years.
The microchip itself does not have a battery or any moving parts. This means it doesn’t wear out or need to be replaced over time.
As a result, once a microchip is implanted, it is expected to last for the entirety of your pet’s life.
A significant advantage of pet microchips is that they require no maintenance. Once implanted, the microchip stays asleep and doesn’t need any upkeep to continue functioning properly.
It’s also encased in biocompatible glass. This protects it from environmental factors and ensures it remains securely in place under your pet’s skin.
Microchips rarely fail. But regular check-ups during vet visits can help ensure the chip is still in place and functioning correctly.
10. Are Pet Microchips Worth it?
Yes, pet microchips are worth it. The peace of mind alone is worth the cost – which is less than $100 in Australia.
Pet microchipping increases the chances of reuniting lost pets with their owners. As pet lovers, we know how priceless that is.
And you need a pet microchip if you want to travel with your pet to and from Australia.
Conclusion
Pet microchipping is a critical aspect of responsible pet ownership. It provides a permanent and reliable form of identification for your pet.
This helps keep your pet safe. Because you can get reunited with your furry companion if they ever get lost.
Are you travelling internationally, entering or leaving Australia? Your pet must be microchipped for international pet travel.
Pet transport involves a lot more than pet microchipping, though.
But don’t worry. We can help you out with the complexities of pet travel.
We’ve been safely transporting pets for 50+ years after all.
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