4 Reasons to Microchip Your Pet

Although microchipping isn’t mandatory in the US, it is in all EU member countries and many other countries around the world. Microchipping your pet is recommended by vets, animal shelters, and other experts. A list of all countries in which the practice is mandatory can be found here.

Microchipping is becoming more and more popular. Shelters have scanners and microchip animals before giving them to their new family. Any pet can be microchipped (even our guinea pigs have them!) and if you adopt, chances are your pet already has a chip, either from the shelter or their previous owner.

What is a microchip implant?

A microchip implant is a rice-sized, nonreactive computer chip that carries contact information about the pet’s owner and serves as a permanent form of identification.

With an astonishing 10 million cats and dogs who get lost or stolen in the US every year, here are four important reasons to microchip your pet:

1. It is a permanent form of ID

The microchip implant is defined by the RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase as “a permanent method of electronic identification” and is “implanted subcutaneaously (just under the skin) between the shoulder blades at the back of your pet’s neck”. This means if somebody were to find your dog, they would be able to bring them to a vet and automatically get their chip read, revealing information about the owner, such as a phone number, name and address, to be able to contact and bring the pet back home. Each microchip number is unique to your pet.

The microchip itself does not require a battery and stays dormant until activated by the scanner, where it uses the energy of the reader and is then able to send out its information.

Another advantage of microchips is that since the microchip is implanted under your pet’s skin, it cannot get lost or removed, whether that be by the dog itself or someone else.

2. It is cheap and low maintenance

The microchip injection is only made once, and does not require any maintenance or follow-up once it is set up. It does not need to be tended to either, as it is designed to last up to 25 years, which exceeds the average life-span of all dogs. Most vet offices will enter your contact information into the chip for you, or will advise you how to do so easily online. Petfinder estimates the procedure costs around $50, which is a small price to pay for the safety of your furry loved ones.

3. It is a quick and painless procedure

The embedded process itself is fast and simple. The vet inserts the chip via a hypodermic needle under the skin between the animal’s shoulder blades. When done properly, the chips rarely migrate out of that specific area. The procedure itself may cause slightly more discomfort than a regular needle would. Vets can also apply a local anesthetic to the area if they judge the embedment to cause tenderness. Once the chip is inserted, you pet will not be able to feel it.

Microchipping is also much less painful than other types of permanent identification, such as tattooing a phone number in the inner thigh or ear. Tattooing your pet is not recommended for many reasons, including:

– needing to shave the area on the body,
– tattooing the skin of your pet (which is painful if they are not under general anesthetic),
– people do not necessarily know to look for a tattoo,
– the fur of the animal could make the tattoo not visible or hard to notice, and
– they could fade over time, meaning reapplication might be needed.

4. It increases chances of finding your pet if it gets lost

The database is national, and microchip identification makes reunion possible even if your pet has crossed state lines. With technological advancements, microchip reading is becoming more and more global, which could mean a scanner in Europe is able to read an American microchip! When we brought our dog from Australia in 2001, the French vet could read her Australian microchip with his new gadget, as they were just introducing it into France at the time. They also create a stronger sense of security for the owner if the tags or collar gets lost.

If you are planning on going through with the procedure or want a professional’s opinion, ask your vet and discuss what options are best and available for your pet and which one they recommend for you.

Is your pet microchipped? Leave a comment and let us know!