Last year, our dog got lost. A gate was inadvertently left open and she ran out. Fear and panic set in when we realized she was missing and we began to scour the neighborhood to find her. Luckily, someone noticed we were looking for her and led us to a neighbor who had found her. Those were a very scary few hours. The neighbors who had found her told us they were going to bring her to our local animal hospital to see if she had a microchip-which she does. So, even if we hadn’t found her that day, there was a good possibility we would have been reunited the following day thanks to our dog being microchipped. You may be wondering, what is a microchip for dogs and how does it work?
This post will look at what a microchip is, how it is implanted, the benefits of having your dog microchipped, and some companies where you can register your dog’s microchip so you can be reunited if your dog ever gets lost.
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What Is A Microchip For Dogs?
A microchip for dogs is a small electronic device that is implanted under your dog’s skin. It is very small, about the size of a grain of rice. It has a number attached to it that is unique to each individual microchip.
Should your dog get lost, the microchip can be scanned and that unique number will come up, which can then be searched for in a database and connected to you.
How Is A Microchip Implanted In My Dog?
Having your dog implanted with a microchip is not painful. It is inserted under your dog’s skin with a needle, similar to having a vaccination, between their shoulder blades. There is no need for your dog to be sedated in order to be implanted with a microchip.
It is best to have this done by your veterinarian, as they know exactly how and where to implant it. They should also have a scanner on hand to make sure the microchip works after it is implanted.
How Does A Microchip Work?
A microchip for dogs does not require any batteries in order to work. Once your dog is implanted with a microchip, it does not emit any electrical pulses or anything harmful to your dog.
In order to work, a scanner needs to be used to obtain the identification number associated with your dog’s microchip. This scanner uses radio waves to pick up the information from the chip.
Once the identification number comes up, it can be looked up on a database.
In order for a microchip to be able to reunite you with your dog, you also need to register the microchip after it is implanted. We will discuss this later on in the post.
How Long Does A Pet Microchip Last?
A microchip for dogs is designed to last your pup’s lifetime, so there is no need to replace it once it is implanted.
Can A Microchip Tell Me Where My Dog Is Located?
Unfortunately, a microchip is not designed to keep track of your dog. It just provides an identification number that is unique to your dog.
What Are The Benefits of Microchipping My Dog?
There are several benefits to having your dog microchipped:
Increases the Likelihood Of a Reunion
Microchipping your dog increases the chances of you reuniting with your lost dog significantly. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, dogs with microchips have an increased likelihood to be returned to their owners than those without them.
Permanent
A microchip is a permanent identification method that cannot be altered or removed, unlike traditional dog tags that can easily fall off or become illegible. This means that even if your dog loses their collar, they can still be identified through their microchip, providing peace of mind for you as a pet parent.
Easy Procedure
Another benefit of microchipping is that it’s a quick and painless procedure. The insertion process takes only a few seconds. While some dogs may experience minor discomfort during the procedure, it is generally well-tolerated and does not require any anesthesia.
Overall, the benefits of microchipping your dog are clear. It provides a reliable and permanent form of identification that can increase the chances of reuniting with your lost pet. Plus, it’s a quick and painless procedure that provides peace of mind for pet parents.
Are There Any Side Effects To Microchipping Dogs?
Generally speaking, most dogs tolerate the procedure well. No anesthesia is needed to implant the microchip and it is relatively painless.
Side effects to microchipping your dog are rare but can include:
- Soreness at the injection site.
- The microchip may move out of position.
- Hair loss.
- The microchip can fail.
- Swelling of the implantation site.
- A tumor may form.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, The British Small Animal Veterinary Association has been keeping a database of adverse reactions to microchips for dogs and found that over 4 million animals have been microchipped. Of those 4 million, there have been only 391 adverse reactions to microchips reported.
What Do I Do After My Dog is Microchipped?
Once your dog’s microchip has been implanted, it is important to register your dog’s microchip. There are several companies available for which you can register your dog’s microchip, which we will discuss below.
It is crucial to maintain the accuracy of the information stored in the database of the company you register with.
Information to include when you register are:
- Your contact information.
- Address.
- Any changes to your pet’s status, such as being lost or stolen can be updated as needed.
Regularly updating the chip’s information will ensure that animal control can easily identify and return your pet if they are found. This is especially important if you move or change phone numbers.
It is also a good idea to ensure that your dog is wearing an identification tag at all times. This can include:
- Their name.
- Your phone number.
- A line indicating that they are microchipped.
This will increase the chances of someone contacting you directly if they find your pet instead of relying solely on the microchip’s information.
Keeping your dog’s microchip information up-to-date and providing them with identification tags are important steps to take after your pet has been microchipped.
Which Microchip Company Is Best?
When it comes to choosing a microchip company for your dog, there are a few options to consider. Some of the most popular companies include Petlink, HomeAgain, Petkey, 24PetWatch, and AKC Reunite.
Each company offers similar services, such as registration of your pet’s microchip number and access to a nationwide database for lost pet recovery.
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has established a Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool. This allows an animal hospital or shelter to look up your dog’s microchip once it’s scanned and see what company the microchip is registered with, helping to reunite you with your dog.
Below, we break down each company for you, including how much it costs to register your dog’s microchip, and what other services are offered. Information is accurate as of this writing and is subject to change.
All of these companies accept all microchips, so you do not need to have their specific microchip in order to use their services.
Petlink
- One time fee of $24.95 USD to register your dog.
- Can add as many pets as you would like to your account.
- Call or file a lost pet online.
- Can print up list pet posters.
Home Again
- Cost of $25 USD per year.
- Can print pet posters with premium membership.
- Access to 24/7 Pet Medical Hotline with premium membership.
- Travel assistance for dogs found 500 or more miles from home with premium membership.
Petkey
- Yearly and lifetime memberships starting at $19.99 USD.
- Discounts offered for multiple pet households.
- Membership includes unlimited, online, lifetime access to training program for behavioral problems.
- Participates in AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup.
24Petwatch
- Lifetime membership: $99.99 USD.
- Lifetime Plus membership: $199.95 USD.
- Annual Membership: $49.95 USD for the first year, $19.95 USD each year after.
- Participates in AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup.
AKC Reunite
- Lifetime enrollment: $19.50 USD.
- Free account updates.
- Annual reminders to keep your dog’s information up to date.
- Private online records to put your dog’s medical information.
- Participates in AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup.
A microchip for dogs can provide you with peace of mind knowing that if your dog should get lost, there will be a way of being contacted and reunited with each other. After learning about the benefits and process of microchipping, it’s clear that this simple procedure can make a significant difference.
Please check out our other posts on Health, Indoor, Outdoor, and Travel accessories for your dog, as well as Reviews of various products and travel destinations.