What is a dog microchip?
A dog microchip is a service that you can get done at your animal hospital. It involves inserting a small chip between the dog’s shoulder blades using a needle. This chip serves to reunite lost pets with their owners when it's scanned by an animal hospital or shelter. The chip contains pertinent information about the pet, but it's not accessible to just anyone.
Lydia Fisher, RVT
Animal Hospital of Statesville
What happens when a dog’s microchip is scanned?
When a lost pet is brought into an animal hospital or a shelter, the pet is scanned to retrieve the microchip number. This number is then looked up in a universal database to identify the microchip company. The company is contacted to obtain the owner's contact information. This information is used by the hospital or shelter to reunite the pet with its owner, and is not given directly to the person who found the pet.
What if a pet is microchipped but the chip hasn’t been registered?
A microchip that hasn't been registered is essentially useless. Without the owner's contact information, the pet cannot be returned. Therefore, it's crucial to register the microchip as soon as possible and keep the information updated.
Do I need to renew the microchip registration?
Some companies do require renewal, but PetLink, the company we use at the Animal Hospital of Statesville, provides lifetime registration. There are no yearly or monthly fees, and changes to your information are free.
Can dogs have multiple microchips?
Though not common, some pets may have multiple microchips, especially if they were adopted from overseas. If this is the case, a note of the multiple chips is made. It's crucial to keep the information on all microchips updated because the first microchip scanned will be the one used to contact the owner.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at 704-802-1280, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram
Dog Microchipping - FAQs
Lydia Fisher, RVT
Animal Hospital of Statesville
How do we implant a chip in a dog?
Implanting a chip in a dog is a same day procedure. It's like an injection that we do right between the shoulder blades. A little piece, much like a grain of rice, is implanted underneath the skin between the shoulder blades which we scan with a microchip for your pet's identification. We always scan before implanting the microchip to ensure your pet doesn't already have one because having multiple microchips can sometimes cause confusion, especially if one belonged to a previous owner.
When is the best time to microchip a dog?
Microchipping a dog can be done at any time. However, we recommend doing it sooner rather than later. Some owners opt to get it done when their pets are puppies. There's not really an age limit for microchipping but we wouldn't do it on very young puppies. Once they start coming in for their puppy series, that's a good time to do it. Some people opt to do it whenever they have their pet spayed or neutered because it is an injection and there may be a little bit of discomfort. It's always good to have some kind of identification on your puppy as soon as you get it.
Is dog microchipping painful?
Dog microchipping is similar to your everyday vaccine. It does require a slightly bigger needle size but most of the time dogs tolerate it fairly well.
Are there any risks or side effects with the microchip?
There are no notable risks or side effects with the microchip. There may be a little bit of bleeding afterwards, but it's very rare.
Is there a recovery period needed?
There's no recovery period needed after microchipping. Once they leave our office, they are free to return to their regular activities.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at 704-802-1280, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram
Dog Microchipping - FAQs 2
Lydia Fisher, RVT
Animal Hospital of Statesville
How can microchipping my dog help him be returned to me if he's lost?
If your dog is found by somebody and taken to an animal hospital, shelter, humane society, or even rescues, they have microchip scanners. These scanners can detect any microchip number. From that number, they can find your contact information, provided that it is up to date.
Will a microchip tell me my dog's location?
A microchip will not tell you where your dog is located. It does not have any GPS capabilities. A scanner is necessary to pick up the microchip number.
Do all shelters scan for microchips?
Yes, all shelters are supposed to scan for microchips.
Does a microchip ensure my dog will be found?
A microchip doesn't guarantee that your dog will be found. However, as long as your contact information is up to date and whoever finds the pet takes them to an animal hospital, shelter, or rescue, it increases the likelihood of your dog being returned to you.
Why does my dog need a microchip if it already has a collar and tags?
If your pet is out roaming and something happens, their collar could get pulled off or caught on something. In such cases, the information on the tags becomes useless. A microchip serves as a more permanent form of identification for your pet.
Does the microchip ever stop working?
There have been instances where microchips have stopped working. However, microchip companies usually back those up and will typically replace them at no charge if that ever happens.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at 704-802-1280, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram