Microchipping Your Pet

Thousands of pets are lost everyday never to return home again. Lost pets will often lose their collars and not be able to be identified by those who find them. Millions of pets worldwide have been found by animal control officers and shelters only to be euthanized or adopted by another owner because their true owner could not be found. While it is important to keep physical tags on your pet, a good way to protect your pet against loss is to have your pet implanted with a microchip.

The microchip has made it possible for lost pets to always be reunited with their owners. Cases have been reported of micro chipped pets being returned to their owners years later and found thousands of miles away from their home. If your pet is micro chipped then any veterinarian or animal control officer that finds your pet will be able to contact you and let you know that your pet has been found. Microchips will identify your pet no matter where they are.

What Is A Microchip?

A microchip is a small radio transponder about the size of a piece of uncooked rice. A microchip is typically placed in dogs and cats in the skin directly in-between the shoulder blades. A microchip can only be implanted by a veterinarian, shelter worker, or animal control officer who has been trained in micro chip insertion. Microchips are inserted in your pet much like a vaccination and often have some of the same side effects such as mild discomfort in the area or mild swelling. Microchips are typically coated with a special coating that makes the chip stay where it is placed and not move or migrate throughout your pet’s body after injection. A micro chip is so small that a human hand cannot feel it. A microchip should not affect how your pet looks or how your pet feels to the touch.

Can I Microchip My Show Animal?

Micro chips adhere to all of the regulations of most major pet shows, so they are safe to use as a form of identification for show animals. Purebred dogs and cats are often encouraged to be micro chipped early in life to confirm their authenticity.

When Can I Microchip My Pet?

A micro chip can be placed in a dog or cat as early as six weeks, but can be placed in your pet no matter how old they are as a form of identification. Microchips are used in animals as large a horses and as small as mice and fish.

How does a Microchip Work?

The microchip emits a low frequency radio wave with an identification number unique to your pet. When your pet is found, a veterinarian or animal control officer can wave a special wand above your pet and read that identification number. They can then call the microchip registry and give your pets’ identification number to receive your contact information.

A 134kHz chip has been the standard for pet identification microchips since 2005 in 150 different countries.

What are the advantages of Microchips?

The advantages of micro chips are rather obvious. A micro chip makes it possible for your pet to be identified no matter what city of country they are found in. A microchip is essentially a permanent set of tags for your pet. Your pet can not lose their micro chip since it has been physically implanted within their body. Since a micro chip can not be removed from your pet, should you pet be stolen it can also be identified accurately by law enforcement. Microchips make it possible for your pet to be identified and make it home safely to you should you ever be separated.