MSD Animal Health today launched HomeAgain Thermochip® its new generation of identification microchip, incorporating a temperature biosensor, and HomeAgain® Pet Recovery Database.
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At the forefront of microchip technology, the HomeAgain Thermochip enables a pet’s subcutaneous temperature and microchip identification number to be read simultaneously using a compatible microchip reader, while the HomeAgain Pet Recovery Database – which is free of charge - makes it easier for lost pets to be reunited with their owners, whichever microchip they may have.
More than just identification
Compliant with ISO standards and with proven temperature accuracy, the HomeAgain Thermochip is the only microchip on the market that combines identification and temperature monitoring. It has been designed to work for the lifetime of the pet and brings a range of benefits, including the ability to track and monitor a pet’s temperature in a non-invasive, stress-free way and supports easier day-to-day in-clinic pet management.
Mr Michael Morrow BSc BVSc MRCVS, Director of St Vincents Veterinary Surgery in Wokingham, said: ''The launch of HomeAgain Thermochip is a real game-changer in the market.
“We have been trialling the Thermochip for some time and it’s now our default option to measure temperature. It’s incredibly useful in everyday practice, particularly when it comes to fractious cats or extremely nervous dogs, and it improves efficiency in consultations. We also use the Thermochip extensively during anaesthetic and post operative monitoring – with minimal handling.
“Reassuringly, we’ve never had any issues with the microchip reader or with the chip migrating to other parts of an animal’s body so it’s very reliable.”
Intelligent identification for temperature monitoring
Recent studies suggest that, like in human health, a pet’s ‘normal’ temperature is not a specific number, rather a range of values that depend on numerous factors such as the time of day, the site of measurement, sex, breed, size, age, activity and stress levels. The HomeAgain Thermochip allows the ability to take multiple temperature readings easily over time, thereby establishing a pet’s individual temperature range.
HomeAgain Thermochip has a pair of transistors built into the chip integrated circuit. The transistors’ junction voltages are proportional to the temperature, and this is what allows the microchip to produce an output signal that is proportional to temperature. This signal is further converted to a digital value. The SureSense® reader and Global Pocket Reader® Plus read the HomeAgain Thermochip and convert the digital value to its corresponding temperature value.
Jan Moehlenbrock, MSD Animal Health, Managing Director UK & Ireland, said: “Vets have been using rectal thermometry as the gold standard for many years. And while this is accurate and reliable, it can only offer a single standard reading and a snapshot of a pet’s health.
“Through our research, we have found that temperature trends can be more useful than one-off readings and multiple temperature values collected regularly can build a more comprehensive picture of a pet’s health. This is where the Thermochip comes in.
“After many years of success with HomeAgain in the U.S., we are excited to start bringing the benefits to pet owners across the U.K.”
For animal identification, the microchip works in much the same way as other microchips. Once the owner registers their pet’s microchip with a recovery database, their animal – in theory – can be traced if lost. The reality is somewhat different, as often the owner’s contact details are out of date making it difficult to reunite pets with their worried owners.
MSD Animal Health aims to have the most comprehensive reunification platform through its DEFRA-compliant HomeAgain Pet Recovery Database. The service provides a multitude of benefits, including:
- A free database service, including registration, transfer of keepership and updates on contact details
- 24/7 UK-based support to help owners locate their pet if they go missing
- Regular automated prompts to encourage owners to keep their contact details up-to-date
- Ability to register multiple contacts against a microchip
- Offers safety and security with no sharing of data with third parties.
For more information, visit www.HomeAgain.co.uk