Microchip

Microchipping Facts and Information

• A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted under the skin between a pet’s shoulder blades.
• Collars/ID tags can be taken off. A microchip is permanent and lasts the lifetime of a pet.
• Microchipping your pet does not hurt it any more than its annual vaccinations. It is a quick pinch and it is over. Some pets react, others don’t even flinch.
• Microchips are not GPS devices. They do not track the location of your pet, but rather maintain a unique ID number that shows up when scanned. The number is then called into a microchip company and they are able to tell them who the chip is registered to. It is VERY important to keep your information up to date.
• There is NO ANNUAL FEE or extra cost unless you choose to elect the extra coverage (insurance, etc.) that some of the microchip companies offer. But your information is secure on the microchip. It will be there whether you pay the annual fee or not.
• There are a couple of completely free microchip registration and update services.  They work with all microchip manufacturers and the AAHA lookup service.  FoundAnimals and Free Pet Chip Registry
• Scanning a pet for microchip is a free service provided by shelters and veterinarians. You do not need to schedule an appointment as it only takes them a minute to scan a pet. Make sure that they cover the entire pet – from head to tail as some microchip brands may migrate to other areas of the body (leg, neck, etc).
• At your annual vet visit, it is always a good idea to ask your veterinarian to scan your pet – just to make sure your pet’s chip is still detectable.
• It is very, very important to update your pet’s information if you should move, change your phone number, etc. To do this, just contact the company that your pet’s microchip is registered with – typically Home Again, AVID, 24HourPetWatch or AKC. If you are unsure of your pet’s number, please take it to a vet or shelter to have it scanned. They will be able to tell you.