Microchips: Worth the Investment

By now, almost all pet owners have heard of microchips. However, you may have a lot of questions about them: What are they? How are they inserted? How long do they last? Where are the placed? etc. I'll answer these questions along with others. Hopefully by the end of the blog, you'll agree that microchips are worth the investment. Image above courtesy of Avid Microchip I.D.

Microchips are tiny computer chips which have an identification number programmed into it. The chips are enclosed in a smooth, biocompatible glass and is small enough to fit into a hypodermic needle. A veterinarian, the Humane Society, or animal shelters tend to be the people who insert the chips. The microchip is usually injected deeply under the skin, between the shoulder blades of cats and dogs. The animals usually feel slightly uncomfortable when the microchip is being injected, but it is not any more painful than a shot. Microchips are biocompatible, hypoallergenic, and non-offensive. The procedure is quick and it doesn't leave any scarring. A small layer of connective tissue forms around the microchips, when properly implanted, preventing movement or migration of the chip. Neither you, nor anyone else, should ever be able to feel the chip in your animal's skin.

Microchips are guaranteed for the life of your animal, and can be inserted any time after 5-8 weeks old on dogs and cats. Practically any animal, including (but not limited to) birds, fish, turtles, llamas, horses, rabbits, and pigs can be injected with a microchip. After a microchip is implanted, a vet or animal shelter can run a scanner over the shoulder blades. The scanner sends a safe radio signal into the microchip; when the chip receives the signal, it sends the microchip number back to the scanner to be displayed in a viewing window. There are many different brands of microchips (the most popular are Avid Microchip, HomeAgain, and 24PetWatch), but they all work the same way and give the same ID number. When a you register your pet and their microchip, you will give out information such as: address, phone number, emergency contact, and veterinarian; your animal's name, age, gender, and breed. This way, if your pet ever gets lost, shelters and/or vets know how to contact you and where.

Now that you know what microchips are and how they work...why do you need one? According to www.24PetWatch.com, millions of pets are lost or abandoned every year. Of these, only 14% of dogs and 4% of cats are returned home. Microchipping is the only permanent method of identifying your pet and linking the animal back to you. What if you had to abandon your animal in a situation like Hurricane Catrina? What if a child opened your gate and forgot to close it? What if your pet went searching to find the root of a scent and couldn't find it's way home? Isn't it important that you and your pet can be safely reunited? Vets and shelters always scan animals when they first arrive...microchipping is the best way to assure you and your pet can be reunited from loss or theft.