What is the effect of attaching a chip to cats and dogs, and how does it work?

In many countries, microchipping pets is quite common, even mandatory .

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ho Chi Minh City is proposing that pet owners must register their dog and cat ownership with the commune-level People's Committee and encourage households to install electronic chips on pets to manage information.

Microchip for dogs from 8 weeks old

Type of chip attached to pets - (Photo: WIKIMEDIA).

Currently, the most popular chip used by many countries for pets is the microchip , an electronic chip as small as a grain of rice, using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.

Each RFID device is made up of two components, including a reading device and a device that generates an identification code. Based on this identifier, veterinary agencies and regulatory agencies can compile many relevant information such as the owner's address, phone number and email, as well as name, breed and vaccination status. .

In the UK, according to regulations effective from 2016, pet dogs over 8 weeks old need to be microchipped. It is expected that from June 2024, this country will propose adding microchip requirements for cats over 20 weeks old. Violations may result in fines.

In the European Union (EU), most countries require microchipping for dogs, while cats and other pets require it, some do not. Some countries also have additional regulations on places and methods of pet trading to protect owners and animal rights.

Inserting the chip into the pet's body by injection and the location of the chip in their body - (Photo: TRACTIVE).

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has issued specifications for standardized livestock chips, which are accepted by most countries. ISO-approved chips carry a 15-digit identification number, while non-ISO chips have 9 or 10 digits.

According to HowStuffWorks , inserting a chip into a pet is a quick and minimally invasive procedure , usually performed by veterinarians using a syringe between the dog's shoulder blades. Typically, the chip is passively located under the skin in the dog's body. Only when scanned by the reader will they transmit the format code to the device.

Indirectly reduces dog and cat bites

Research by the University of Florida (USA) shows that 1 in 3 pets will sooner or later get lost. From data retrieved from the chip, the rate of pets finding owners will be higher. For example, a survey of dog and cat rescue shelters in the US, Italy and Israel showed that up to 74% were fitted with chips when lost and found their owners.

As for cats, a study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) showed that cats fitted with chips had a 21 times higher probability of being reunited with their owners than cats without chips.

Retrieve the dog's identification code after inserting the chip - (Photo: GETTY IMAGES).

According to experts, microchipping pets indirectly reduces the number of people bitten by dogs and cats.

Research in the WWF magazine shows that microchip installation helps veterinary centers and management agencies obtain data about pets, especially vaccination information for livestock diseases. In addition, increasing the probability of finding lost pets means reducing the number of dogs and cats roaming free.

In the US, the cost of microchipping dogs and cats at veterinary centers usually ranges from 25 - 60 USD (600,000 - 1.4 million VND). Some animal shelters can install a chip for 5 USD (120,000 VND).

Microchip installed in cats - Photo: VET TIMES

Will pet health be affected? According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, most cases of chipped dogs and cats do not affect their health . In a small number of cases, pets have side effects such as mild swelling, redness, or very rarely, infection at the injection site.

Although it is also very rare, the chip may not function properly. The cause may be due to manufacturing errors or damage after implantation. Experts advise pet owners to check regularly when visiting veterinary centers to ensure the chip is working stably.