Microchip date unknown

While reading this thread, I thought, "Put whatever date you want.  The only one who could contradict you is the dog, and he's not going to tell them."
 

 

LOL, no, I suppose my dog won't be pulling aside an ARC worker and demanding a change to his certificate.

I'll discuss it with my vet, but it sounds like I shouldn't get a second chip. His chip is the ten-digit AVID kind, though, so I'll probably buy a scanner to keep with me in the UK in case he gets lost and I have to hunt the shelters for him. I have the registration document from 24PetWatch listing the date I registered the chip.

Just to make certain, I can start the PETS process even if I do not know when I am going to travel, as long as I keep his rabies vaccination current? All I would need to make sure of is that I got the EC 998 form signed within 4 months of travel and that I got his tick/tapeworm treatment within 48-24 hours of travel?

Just to make certain, I can start the PETS process even if I do not know when I am going to travel, as long as I keep his rabies vaccination current? All I would need to make sure of is that I got the EC 998 form signed within 4 months of travel and that I got his tick/tapeworm treatment within 48-24 hours of travel?

Yes, once the 6-month countdown is over (or during it), you can start the 4-month window with the USDA signing off on the EC 998 form. As long as the rabies is kept up-to-date, you can extend the process as long as you want.

His chip is the ten-digit AVID kind, though, so I'll probably buy a scanner to keep with me in the UK in case he gets lost and I have to hunt the shelters for him.

You won't recognize him?

Andy

I've specifically e-mailed DEFRA about this and they recommended NOT having two microchips in place. First of all, two microchips in close proximity can potentially cause interference and secondly - and most importantly - if they scan your pet and pick up the "wrong" microchip number it can jeopardize the whole process.

At least three of my cats were chipped years before I started the pets process and I had no paperwork for them whatsoever. Dates were guestimated and no-one had any problems with that. Sometimes you just *can't* do any better than that.

I think the OP's best bet if they are still really concerned about not having dates is to contact DEFRA *and* the USDA vet in their state personally and ask them what to do.

For me personally, when both the USDA vet and the people at the ARC went through my paperwork they commented on how well organized and well-done everything was (I can't take credit for it, I had an amazing vet tech help me out)! And I didn't have any paperwork documenting "when" the chips were put in.

What you say concerns me now. Back in 2005, we had both of our cats chipped at a local Banfield. When we told the vet that we potentially move to the UK in the future, he offered to put a US-readable chip and a UK-readable chip in each of them. And now that may pose a problem? Anyone have any advice about this? And will it matter that they were chipped in a different state from we live now?

What you say concerns me now. Back in 2005, we had both of our cats chipped at a local Banfield. When we told the vet that we potentially move to the UK in the future, he offered to put a US-readable chip and a UK-readable chip in each of them. And now that may pose a problem? Anyone have any advice about this? And will it matter that they were chipped in a different state from we live now?

It's my understanding that an ISO (UK standard) chip will not be detected on an AVID (a common US standard) reader, and vice versa, unless the scanner is designed as a universal scanner. So, if your pet were scanned with an ISO reader, the reader would only pick up an ISO chip. This chart from Wikipedia describes the different types of chips available and the various scanners that will read them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microchip_implant_(animal) (scroll down the page to the chart). As you can see, different scanners will respond differently to each kind of chip - good read, detect only (no number given), or no read.

I know there was some concern upthread about multiple chips in a pet interfering with each other and preventing either of them from being read, but if one chip is ISO and the other is AVID, I wonder if that is scientifically possible, given that the chips are inert until scanned and that they operate at different frequencies. However, if Heathrow ARC has a universal scanner, then there is the risk that they will scan the "wrong" microchip. I'll ask my vet about it when I see her next.

You won't recognize him?

Andy

Okay, maybe it's overkill , but how would I be able to prove he is my dog if the shelter couldn't detect a chip? Isn't that one of the purposes of microchipping?

My boys only have AVID chips. I was going to put ISO ones in, but my vet here was able to scan their chips, and said it shouldn't be a problem with shelters and such. So for now, I'm leaving them with just the one chip in.

My boys only have AVID chips. I was going to put ISO ones in, but my vet here was able to scan their chips, and said it shouldn't be a problem with shelters and such. So for now, I'm leaving them with just the one chip in.

One of my dogs has a HomeAgain chip. My vet can't read it, so I would be skeptical that all places can read non-ISO chips. Now I have a dilemma. Some people say two chips are ok, some say it isn't. Sigh...

Andy

One of my dogs has a HomeAgain chip. My vet can't read it, so I would be skeptical that all places can read non-ISO chips. Now I have a dilemma. Some people say two chips are ok, some say it isn't. Sigh...

Hm. I may go back to my vet, then, as I know they can read the chips. Once they can ID the chips, they can know where to put the ISO ones so that there's no interference. You still get the issue with multiple chip #s, but at least then there would be something to be read.

What you say concerns me now. Back in 2005, we had both of our cats chipped at a local Banfield. When we told the vet that we potentially move to the UK in the future, he offered to put a US-readable chip and a UK-readable chip in each of them. And now that may pose a problem? Anyone have any advice about this? And will it matter that they were chipped in a different state from we live now?

Not much you can do but document BOTH chip numbers on all forms and hope for the best! I don't think DEFRA or the people at the ARC are in the business of trying to keep you from your pet if you've followed all the rules so hopefully documenting both chip numbers will be enough.

Though don't take my word for it, I would contact DEFRA and the USDA to double check what you should do.

Hm. I may go back to my vet, then, as I know they can read the chips. Once they can ID the chips, they can know where to put the ISO ones so that there's no interference. You still get the issue with multiple chip #s, but at least then there would be something to be read.

Before you put another chip in, e-mail the ARC and ask them directly what readers they have. Three of my cats had old-school HomeAgain chips that aren't "ISO" compatible but ARE compatible under "Annex A" and the ARC was definitely able to scan them.

I honestly think the people at Heathrow ARC can scan almost any of the most common chips. And if you look closely at what chips fall under "ISO" compatibility there is an Annex to it (that I cited above) that covers most of the common American chips - including the HomeAgain ones my cats have (which are NOT the new ones).

Mine had a Home Again chip too and there were no problems.

Before you put another chip in, e-mail the ARC and ask them directly what readers they have. Three of my cats had old-school HomeAgain chips that aren't "ISO" compatible but ARE compatible under "Annex A" and the ARC was definitely able to scan them.

I honestly think the people at Heathrow ARC can scan almost any of the most common chips. And if you look closely at what chips fall under "ISO" compatibility there is an Annex to it (that I cited above) that covers most of the common American chips - including the HomeAgain ones my cats have (which are NOT the new ones).

My boys are already here, so my concern isn't with ARC (who read the chips just fine), but the shelter down the road who may not know my pet has a chip and can't find my info.

My boys are already here, so my concern isn't with ARC (who read the chips just fine), but the shelter down the road who may not know my pet has a chip and can't find my info.

Yes, exactly. That's my concern as well.

As far as ARC goes I read somewhere (can't find it now) that they have lots of different scanners to try. After all, they probably just want to get the pets in and out quickly and with minimum hassle...

As a side note - my vet does microchipping for 5 quid. Wow! That is mind bogglingly cheap compared to anything I saw in Arizona...

Andy

My boys are already here, so my concern isn't with ARC (who read the chips just fine), but the shelter down the road who may not know my pet has a chip and can't find my info.

Ahhh sorry...I got a bit befuddled as to who was asking what in the thread! You can always re-chip and hope for the best! Especially since getting into the country successfully or not isn't at stake anymore.

Personal anecdote: For funzies I checked the microchip on one of my cats here in the UK when I had him downstairs in the clinic - and his number came up on their regular ol scanner (his old HomeAgain "non iso" chip)! The problem would then be that of course his number isn't in the national database.