A microchip is the size of a tiny piece of rice that can be inserted between the shoulder blades of a dog or a cat within seconds. We just use a special needle with a microchip at your veterinarian’s office.
We can do this on any pet at any age – awake or sedated. It’s no more painful than a shot. We typically recommend doing it young when the pet is around six months old and getting spayed or neutered. However, if that opportunity was missed, it could be done anytime. Just talk to your veterinarian hospital staff.
It’s also very affordable, less than $75, and it’s safe and a necessity for any pet who can’t advocate for themselves, which is all pets. These microchips never cause issues and usually stay under the skin right where they’re placed, between the shoulder blades. They usually work forever, so one and done. However occasionally they can migrate up or down the back or even down the leg, or occasionally they can stop working. This doesn’t cause any issues, but have your pet scanned yearly to be sure placed properly and working.
When lost pets are scanned, the entire body SHOULD be scanned, and if not found between the shoulder blades right away, then scan up and down the front legs to catch any that may have migrated. But, as a pet owner, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AT THEIR YEARLY VET EXAM, to ask for a quick scan to make sure that: (1) the chip is still working, (2) the location of the chip is good, and (3) that the chip information is correct.
Remember, microchips save lives and reunite families with their pets. One pet every 6 minutes is reunited with their owner in America because of a microchip. Chips are inert and safe. There are no electronics, no emitters and no radiation. It’s not a LoJack, just a chip. So when your pet gets lost because someone left the gate/door open accidentally, or the dog ran away or was stolen, it will eventually get picked up and brought to a veterinary clinic or an animal shelter. We will scan for a chip with a hand-held scanner, and within seconds we have the information you want us to know.
For example, your name and your phone number, or your name and your address and your phone number or email. It’s something that can be changed whenever you move at no additional charge just by logging on.
If your pet ever gets lost, you can’t depend on a collar identification only. Most pets lose collars or tags while on the run. They can’t lose a microchip. When a pet is found by a stranger or a Good Samaritan, they will call the police or animal control, and the pet usually ends up in an animal shelter. A shelter that is full could potentially traumatize or euthanize your dog or cat if they are not microchipped. Protect your pets. Microchips save lives.
Joseph Martins, DVM, Belle Mead Animal Hospital
