What Is Dog Microchipping?

The canine microchip is a small electronic device that is implanted under the skin of a dog. A tiny electronic circuit board is enclosed in a glass cylinder approximately the same size as an uncooked piece of rice. Once it is placed inside the animal, the chip is activated by a scanner. It is then able to transmit information about the animal.

  1. Implantation

    • To implant the microchip, the device is loaded into a hypodermic needle. The needle is then inserted beneath the skin and the microchip is injected. Though the needle is slightly larger than average, the implantation causes no greater discomfort than the standard injection. Microchips are generally placed between the shoulder blades, toward the back of the neck, and can be felt by gently palpating the skin in the insertion area. The entire procedure can be preformed during a routine checkup at the veterinarian's office.

    Benefits

    • Microchips have been primarily used to return lost pets to their rightful owners. The chip contains an identification number and the number is linked by computer database to files that contain the contact information for the dog's family. This enables organizations such as animal shelters and veterinary clinics to facilitate a speedy reunion between missing dog and distressed dog owner. Currently, microchips cannot track a pet and they do not contain the animal's medical information.

    Rescue

    • Each chip injected into a dog has a unique number assigned to it. This number serves as the microchip's ID. Once a dog has undergone implantation, the vet will scan the dog to activate the chip and make sure it is working. Then the veterinarian will fill out a contact information form detailing the personal data of the dog owners, the microchip ID number, the dog's name and basic description, the contact information for the vet clinic and a designated emergency contact. The record is then sent to a general registry and entered into a common database. If a dog happens to wander off and is picked up by animal control or taken to a pet shelter, it can be scanned and quickly returned home.

    Maintenance

    • Microchips are designed without an interior energy source so they remain nonreactive until they are implanted and scanned. Once the implantation is complete and the unit is activated, microchips do not require any additional upkeep, though you should update your contact information if this happens to change. All chip components are hermetically sealed during the manufacturing process, which prevents fluids from entering the device and reduces the chances of complications developing as a result of the microchipping process. Each year, at your dog's annual physical, the vet should scan the microchip to ensure it is still functional and has remained in its insertion site.

    Issues

    • The microchip has been a wonderful device for helping to reunite lost dogs with their families. However, in recent years manufacturers have been making chips that require company-specific readers. In other words, the scanners made by one company may not be able to read the chips made by another. Also, while some microchip manufacturers donate scanners to local pet shelters, some do not. This means a chipped dog could pass through the hands of an animal control agent while their microchip remains undetected. Before having a microchip implanted in your dog, contact the animal control office nearest you and check to be certain they use scanners that can read the microchips your veterinarian uses. Also, be sure your dog is wearing standard ID tags on their collar. No one needs a scanner to read the information on dog tags.