It is unimaginable to lose your furry friend, yet many dog parents have come to me with the same story. No matter how careful they were in protecting their pet, they could not bring themselves to find them one day. Rarely do people who lose their dogs claim to have found them back.
They do not even see how and when their pet must have escaped from their house in most cases, so it becomes even more challenging to locate them despite a tagging.
I recommend my friends and family with pets be on the safe side and consider the option of microchipping. I understand that this option is not as explored by people as others, yet it is a viable one when it comes to the security of your pet. Not many people know microchipping, how it works, and the process. Today, I will talk about all you need to know before microchipping your pooch.
What is Microchipping?
Microchipping is a simple and easy process that can help save your pet from any danger if they are lost. It can unite dog parents with their lost dog, however, there is no assurance, but if used correctly, this is possible. It is essential to store the information about your pet correctly in the chip to ensure that you can be contacted if that happens.
It is a tiny computer chip that can be inserted into your pet’s skin. It contains a unique identification number that a scanner can decipher. This helps in making the search process easier.
Also Read:- 18 Common Health Problems in Large Breed Dogs
What is the Process of Microchipping?
Microchipping is a straightforward procedure that only takes a few minutes. But it has to be performed by a veterinary professional, who begins by carefully cleaning that area of your dog’s skin where the chip should be inserted. Then the vet uses a needle and installs the chip.
The chip is normally inserted between the animal’s shoulder blades.
Although when the chip is being inserted, your pet may feel some pain and may scream a bit, once the implant is done, your dog won’t be able to feel the presence of the chip, and it will not even cause it any discomfort.
Is Microchipping painful for Your Dog?
As a concerned dog owner, it is normal for you to be worried about microchipping your dog. But let us assure you that microchipping is quite a painless procedure. The procedure takes hardly a minute, and no anesthesia is required. The chip in itself is hardly any longer than a grain of rice. The vet will just inject the chip between your dog’s shoulder blades, and the whole process is so quick and painless that your dog probably won’t even notice a thing.
What Are the Side Effects of Microchipping?
As such, there are no significant or injurious side effects of microchipping. The chips which are inserted are safe and are made of biocompatible materials. Besides, they are approved by the FDA, and we assure you that your dog will be safe and healthy.
Despite this claim, any medical procedure has some side effects. In the case of microchipping, it is generally some swelling at the site where the chip has been inserted. There usually is no need to be concerned because the swelling is only transitory and will go down on its own.
Besides, there is a risk of migration in some cases of the chip. This is also very significant, and the chip doesn’t move beyond an inch from the area where it was initially inserted. Needless to say that these side effects are relatively minute, and microchipping won’t harm your dog in any way.
Who Needs Microchipping?
Anyone with a pet can consider getting them microchipped. Collars and tags are not trusted if your pet gets lost or stolen, as these can fall off or get displaced. However, microchips are permanent.
Microchips store information within them, like the name and address of the owner, and since the chip is tiny in size, it is easy to insert within the body of animals as well.
How is Microchipping Helpful?
Microchips are extremely small in size. Generally, they are like a grain of rice. But this small chip can store vital information regarding the owner and can be used to identify the owner of a lost or stolen animal. Microchip scanners are available at animal shelters, veterinarians, and police stations. So, when a missing animal is brought to one of these locations, a scanner can be used to identify the owner. The concerned authorities can then call the owner and make suitable arrangements to return the animal. This has helped owners and pets find one another’s back.
What kind of Information is Contained in the Microchip?
Microchips essentially contain a unique identification number and do not actively transmit any information. These microchips neither have any battery nor do they have any internal power source. They are tiny and sturdy, are inserted below your dog’s skin, and remain inactive unless they are scanned by a microchip scanner.
Do Microchips Work Via GPS?
It is vital to note that microchips are not GPS gadgets, and hence, they do not allow any real-time tracking. On the other hand, a microchip used on dogs is a Radio Frequency Identification Device. Unlike GPS, radiofrequency devices do not require electricity to function, one of the most significant advantages.
It can be easily detected by an animal shelter waving an RFID scanner across the dog’s body where the microchip is inserted. This, in turn, enables them to access important information about the owner and help pets and owners to reunite.
How Long Can Microchips Last?
These tiny chips are made of high-quality biocompatible materials, and we assure you that these chips don’t break down over time. They are specifically designed to last the lifetime of an animal. This also ensures that your pets do not require any surgical procedure to remove the old microchip and insert a new one.
Some Facts you Should know Before Microchipping your Pooch
- Microchips should be used as a permanent option as these cannot be removed and can last a lifetime for your pet.
- It is a reliable way to retrieve your lost pet. However, it doesn’t safeguard them against any calamity sorts and therefore does not guarantee a reunion with your pet.
- It is not a substitute for proper pet care and is there to increase the chances of reuniting your pet.
- One needs to ensure that microchipping is done by a professional and that the dog owner’s proper and updated details are registered for a quick response.
- Remember that microchips are more likely to e tracked and scanned by a vet or an animal shelter.
FAQs
Microchipping your dog offers a lot of benefits. To begin with, unlike dog collars, microchips can’t be stolen, ensuring that your dog’s information is not tampered with. The whole process is almost painless and hardly consumes any time.
Besides, microchips are sturdy and suffice for a lifetime. Last, they are quite affordable too. Given the benefits of microchipping, you should definitely consider microchipping your dog, as it increases the chances of you finding your dog back in case it is lost.
Getting your dog microchipped is not that expensive and can be useful if your dog gets lost. On average, the cost of microchipping your dog should be around $45-50. This money includes the vet procedure, online registration process, and the cost of the actual chip. The cost of microchipping a dog does not depend on the size of your dog, and the procedure remains the same.
Also, if you have adopted a dog from a rescue center, you may find that your dog may already have been microchipped. Many such organizations mandate microchipping their dogs before letting them be adopted.
People have a misconception that microchips can be used to trace a lost dog. The truth, however, is that microchips are not based on GPS and can’t be used to trace animal movements. In general, a microchip for pets contains an ID number and a phone number of the microchip brand’s registry.
If a dog is lost and found, the microchip can be scanned using a scanner, and the contact information about the microchip’s registry and the ID number can be retrieved. This can help one to find the owner of the dog and return it.
Microchips are used to store crucial information about a dog. They are as small as a grain of rice and are also called RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags. It is a form of permanent identification.
Microchips are implanted in dogs, and if your dog is lost, anybody who finds it can get the microchip scanned to retrieve the Unique Identification Number of a dog.
Thus, microchips can be considered a line of defense for dogs. They ensure that your pet’s identification is never compromised in any manner.
Microchips are sturdy, durable, and built to last for a long time. It doesn’t have any battery, and there is no need to charge or replace it. A microchip is implanted below a dog’s skin, and the procedure is quite painless and does not require much time. Once a microchip is implanted in a dog, it will probably last a pet’s whole life.
No, microchips implanted under your pet’s skin do not have any GPS technology. They are as small as the size of a grain of rice, and these microchips do not even work like a GPS system. Instead, microchips use RFID technology (Radio-frequency identification technology), which can be scanned, and information like the contact information of the owner can be retrieved.
Unfortunately, despite all the technological advancements, even today, mobile phones are unable to read the microchips of pets. You will need a proper scanner to read the dog chip, which fortunately is amply available at a cheap rate. Besides, some scanners will connect to your Android and iOS and use Bluetooth to identify animals with the help of their microchips.
Due to their small size, location, and strength, microchips are almost unbreakable. They are built to perform in every situation and last for a really long time. In rare cases, a pet’s body may damage its microchip, or its body may reject the microchip after it has been implanted.
In such cases, the chip has to be removed from the dog’s body. This involves a proper surgical procedure, proper anesthesia, and professional help from trained medical professionals.
The legality of microchipping one’s dog depends on where the dog has been bought and the residing country of the owner as well. Many countries, like the United Kingdom and India, have mandated microchipping dogs.
According to the existing laws, every puppy that a pet shop sells should be microchipped. Unfortunately, in practice, hardly any breeder or pet owner gets their dog microchipped.
Well, it is nearly impossible to feel or look at a dog and identify if it has been microchipped. The easiest way to find the same is to take the dog to a vet and get it scanned. A scan will also reveal the microchip number, and you can check the online chip checker to find out who the dog is registered with. Once you know the details, you can easily return them to the owner.
Bottom Line
Microchipping is a safe and recommended way to provide your pet animals with additional safety. The technology is advanced and will work better than traditional methods like dog collars. It is safe, and there is no significant surgical process involved. It ensures that even if your pet gets lost, they can be easily found and reunited with you.
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Dr. Lillian is a D.V.M. passionate about promoting awareness of dogs. She shares her expertise through her blogs on canineweekly.com and provides animal care services, including internal medicine, dermatology, and emergency care. Dr. Lillian is committed to contributing to animal welfare.