Microchipping your dog can increase the chances that they are found if they get lost. Our Knightdale vets discuss the benefits of getting a microchip for your dog.
What is a pet microchip?
Vets and animal shelters can use microchips - tiny radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips - to locate pet owners if their animal has been found. Microchips are typically placed under the skin and are about the size of a grain of rice.
What can I expect from the microchipping procedure?
Your dog will be positioned for the microchip injection before your vet places a needle that's been preloaded with the microchip into the application syringe or gun into their body.
The microchip is typically implanted in the subcutaneous tissue along the dog's spine, between the shoulder blades. For the most accurate placement, your dog should be either lying on his stomach or standing up. Your veterinarian will gently pull up some of the loose skin before quickly inserting the needle and injecting the microchip. The microchip will be injected into the tissue when the vet squeezes the applicator trigger.
Having a microchip implanted in your dog will not require surgery. The chip will be placed just under the skin using a needle and involve little discomfort. In fact, most dogs hardly react to having a microchip implanted.
Once your dog has been microchipped, you'll register the chip's serial number and your dog's information with the company that produced the chip. If your dog is found, the serial number of the microchip can be matched with your dog's information to help trace you as the pet owner.
Why not just get a collar and tag for my dog?
When it comes to returning lost dogs to their owners, collars and tags are useful tools. People can simply read the tag, and call the phone number listed on it to contact the owner.
Your dog should always have collars and identification tags in case they get into trouble. Be sure to include your name and contact number on your dog's tag.
As good as it is to equip your dog with a collar and identification tag, tags can fall off and get lost, leaving your dog with no identifying information. Microchips are a permanent way to provide your dog with a means of identification.
Note: It is important to keep your microchip registration information up to date. Be sure to contact the microchip company to update your information if you move or change your contact number.
Microchips should not replace license tags and collars because they are not externally visible as a signal that your dog belongs to a family. Instead, having your dog microchipped and wearing a collar and tag will give you the best chance of reuniting with your dog if they become separated from you.
How do microchips for dogs work?
If your dog is found, the vet or rescue organization will read the microchip with a special scanner. Microchip scanners are universal in that they can read any modern chip, regardless of brand. When the scanner passes over the dog's back and sides, the microchip transmits its unique identification number to the scanner.
The rescuer will then contact the national database to find out your phone number so that you can be notified that your dog has been found. Should your dog be stolen, microchips can also be very helpful when it comes to proving ownership.
Are there risks to microchipping my dog?
Some pet parents may be concerned about pain, allergic reactions, or internal microchip migration. This method of identification has been in use for many years and has been successfully implanted into millions of pets. Newer microchips, in particular, have improved, making rejection or allergic reaction extremely unlikely.
Thanks to microchips, dogs can be reunited with their loving families even years after being separated from them. Ask your Knightdale vets about having your canine friend microchipped as soon as possible.