Microchipping Your Pet

What is a microchip, as it relates to pets?

The microchip is a computer chip that is about the size of a grain of rice. This chip is programmed with a unique identification number that will be individual to the animal in which it is implanted. The chip is enclosed in a tiny glass cylinder that is completely inert or “biocompatible” – it is not recognized as foreign by the body and therefore does not cause any sort of allergic reaction or rejection.

What’s the benefit of microchipping my pet?

A microchip is a permanent way of identifying your pet that can be lost, changed or destroyed. There are many stories of pets that have been reunited with their owners after many years or after traveling hundreds or thousands of miles. For some microchip success stories, visit Home Again’s found pets site: http://foundpets.homeagain.com. The author’s personal experience was a happy one as well – my 16 week old puppy yanked the leash out of my hand one day when we were walking and a large, aggressive dog charged the fence. Terrified, she ran, and I was unable to catch her. She disappeared. After two days of endless searching, she turned up at a house several streets away. They took her to their vet, who scanned her for a chip and called me right away. Microchips work and are proof that the pet is yours!

How does microchip identification work?

A special scanner “reads” the chip by transmitting a radio signal to the chip when placed over it. The chip then sends its unique signal back to the scanner, which displays it on the screen. Each number is singular to the pet and the sequence of letters and numbers also identifies the registry in which the chip is maintained. Scanners are “universal” meaning that any scanner can read all chips. The person reading the chip can then contact the appropriate registry and then the owner.

How are microchips implanted?

Microchips are implanted with a needle beneath the skin between the shoulder blades. The injection is similar to a vaccine and the needle is very sharp. The sharper the needle, the less painful it is when it is inserted! Most animals do not react to microchip implantation. At our clinic, we ice the area prior to insertion so the skin is numb. Once inserted, the microchip cannot be felt or seen.

How early can puppies or kittens receive their microchip? Is it safe for toy dogs?

Young pets can be microchipped as early as 6 to 8 weeks of age. Microchips are all the same and the same chip and needle are used to implant tiny creatures like mice! Microchipping is safe for young puppies and kittens and for very small toy breed dogs.

How long does the microchip last?

The microchip is designed to last the lifetime of the pet. It does not contain a battery or other power source that might need replaced, and it has no moving parts. Once it is implanted, a thin layer of natural connective tissue forms around it, keeping it in place. The microchip does not require any future care, and it does not pass out of the body in any way.

Does implantation of the microchip hurt?

The microchip itself does not contain anything that might sting or irritate the tissue. Most pets do not react any more than they do to a regular vaccine or other injection. The needle used for implantation is very sharp, which minimizes discomfort to the pet. The microchip can be implanted while your pet is under anesthesia for a spay, neuter or other procedure, however it is not necessary that the pet be under anesthesia to be microchipped. Microchip injection is just like any other injection or vaccination.

Is it possible for my pet to be allergic to the microchip?

The microchip is a smooth device that is nontoxic, hypoallergenic and inert. According to microchipping companies, there is virtually no chance of the body rejecting the microchip or developing an allergy to it. In my experience, I have only seen one microchip problem (an abscess at the site) out of many thousands of chips implanted. I hypothesize that that one dog had another problem at the microchip site that compounded the problem.

If a veterinary clinic or animal shelter finds a microchip, how will they know who to call?

After your pet is microchipped, the veterinarian will give you information on how to contact the registry for that chip to give them your information. That information will be entered into a database that will forever link your information to your pet’s unique microchip ID. It is extremely important that you send in the registration paperwork! The most common way that microchips fail is when the owner has not registered the microchip to themselves after implantation. Please ask our staff to assist you if you have any questions about registration of your chip. Some registries, like Home Again, will register all chips, even if they are not home again microchips. For a nominal fee (currently 16.99 per year) Home Again also offers additional benefits with their microchip. This includes free calls to the Poison Control Hotline, which can be a valuable benefit! It is also important to remember to update your registration information for each of your animals (including your phone number(s) and email address) every time you move. Animal shelters and veterinarians routinely scan any lost pet for a microchip. Thankfully, more and more pets are being chipped and reunited with their owners! Shelters and vets are aware of all of the microchip registries and will contact them for owner information when a pet is found. They then contact the owner of the pet so the pet can go home!

Do shelters always scan animals for microchips?
Yes, scanning pets for microchips has become standard practice in animal shelters. However, if you have a lost pet, it is always important to be proactive! Call and visit all local shelters, multiple days, and hand out flyers at veterinary offices and shelters in your area. Many local businesses will also allow you to post Lost Pet flyers. Many of the microchip registries allow you to upload a photo of your pet, and will create flyers for you to post if you pet is lost.