Homeagain<sup>®</sup> Thermochip<sup>®</sup> and Thermochip<sup>®</sup> Mini
Intelligent identification for temperature monitoring.
HomeAgain® Thermochip® and Thermochip® Mini are a new generation of identification microchips, which incorporate patented and integrated temperature biosensors alongside the tiny passive radio-frequency identification device (RFID), which operates as any other identification microchip.
This enables the pet's subcutaneous temperature and identification number to be read simultaneously, using a compatible reader such as SureSense™ Universal Microchip Reader or Global Pocket Reader® Plus (GPR+).
How Thermochip and microchip readers work together.
Thermochip: Intelligent identification for temperature monitoring.
What are the clinical applications for utilising a Thermochip?
The location of the microchip makes it much easier, and far less stressful for the animal, to take multiple temperature measurements, enabling subcutaneous temperature to be monitored frequently over time.
Thermochip is available in a standard and mini presentation. 
What do we know about temperature variability?
Although veterinary professionals use single rectal thermometry as the gold standard1, it is worth noting that rectal temperatures are variable, if taken frequently enough!2
Normal body temperature sits within a range, which varies from one pet to another, and can be influenced by factors such as:
The animal's physiological temperature interval depends on its own intrinsic factors and may also vary in healthy animals.
Therefore temperature trends are more useful than one-off readings. Equally readings from different temperature sites cannot be compared.
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Is Thermochip a reliable method of measuring temperature?
Thermochip collects very similar temperature values to those measured by the 3 digital thermometers commonly used in veterinary practice, when they are placed under the same temperature-controlled conditions.
Independent laboratory study11:
Temperatures collected by Thermochip (10 microchips) versus 3 digital thermometers, under the same temperature-controlled conditions, at 0.5°C intervals, between 33°C and 43°C:
A veterinary physiologist8 collected and reviewed multiple temperature studies concluded:
Axillary, auricular or any other temperature readings should not be interpreted interchangeably with the ordinary rectal temperature range.
Instead, it would be better to compare them with a reference range for the particular site.
This absence of correlation is already well known in human medicine9 and was also seen for dogs10.
Benefits of HomeAgain Thermochip and Thermochip Mini include:
- Better understanding of an individual animal's temperature range.
- Enhanced animal welfare through reducing the stress of obtaining a temperature reading.
- Utilising innovation which strenghtens the clinic image.
- Easier in-clinic patient management.
- Saves time for vet and clinic staff.
- Compatability with the Sure Petcare range of products, including microchip-enabled pet flaps, feeders and drinking stations.
Order HomeAgain Microchips & Readers from MWI & NVS today
To report an adverse reaction or product-related problem with HomeAgain microchips please fill in an adverse event form or alternatively call MSD Animal Health on 01908 685685.
For any further questions please contact us at homeagainuk@msd.com and a member of our team will respond to you as soon as possible.
References
1. Gomart SB, Allerton FJ, Gommeren K (2014). Accuracy of different temperature reading techniques and associated stress response in hospitalized dogs. J Vet Emerg Crit Care 24:279-285,
2. Piccione G, Giudice E, Fazio F and Refinetti R (2011). Association between obesity and reduced body temperature in dogs. International Journal of Obesity 35: 1011–1018
2b. Auclair-Ronzaud, J., Benoist, S., Dubois, C., Frejaville, M., Jousset, T., Jaffrezic, F., Wimel, L. and Chavatte-Palmer, P., (2020). No-contact microchip monitoring of body temperature in yearling horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 86, p.102892
3 Jeong et al.(2019). Wearable Devices for Precision Medicine and Health State Monitoring. IEEE transactions on biomedical engineering 66, no. 5.
4 Piccione G, et al.(2010). The daily rhythm of body temperature, heart and respiratory rate in newborn dogs. J Comp Physiol, 180 ; 6; 895-904,
5 Refinetti R, and Piccione G, (2003). Daily Rhythmicity of body temperature in the dog. J. Vet. Med. Sci., 65(8):935-937
6 Ready AE, and Morgan G,(1984). The physiological response of Siberian Husky dogs to exercise: effect of interval training. Can Vet J, 25: 86-91,
7 Bragg RF, et al.,(2015). Evaluation of the effects of hospital visit stress on physiologic variables in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 246 : 212-215
8 Sousa MC, (2016). Measuring body temperature: how do different sites compare? Veterinary Record 178: 190-191.
9 Holzhauer et. al.(2009). Evaluation of Temporal Artery Thermometry in Children 3–36 Months Old. JSPN Vol. 14, No. 4.
10 Konietschke, et al.(2014). Comparison of auricular and rectal temperature measurement in normothermic, hypothermic, and hyperthermic dogs,Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere. 42(1):13-9.
11 Independent lab study demonstrating HomeAgain Thermochip is a reliable monitor of temperature, compared to 4 digital thermometers (data on file).
