microchipped cat

Everything You Should Know About Microchips Before You Chip Your Pet

If you’ve ever had a pet go missing, you know the pain and anxiety that comes with not knowing where your furry friend is. There’s nothing worse than not knowing if your pet has found a warm place to sleep, something to eat, or someone to take care of them while you try to find them.

If there was something you could do to make that process a little easier, make the odds of finding your pet a little higher, wouldn’t you do it?

That’s where microchips come in. But there are many misunderstandings surrounding microchips, what they are, and how they work.

If you want to know more about microchips, keep reading. We’re going to break down the details of microchips, including how much a pet microchip costs, so you have all the information you need to make the right choice for your furry friend. 

What is a Microchip?

A microchip is a device that is no bigger than a grain of rice that a vet places under the skin in some animals and into the breast muscle of others. The microchip has an identification code on a barcode label that a special piece of technology can read through the skin.

There are two different kinds of microchips out there: passive and active. Pets receive a passive microchip, meaning that the chip doesn’t emit any information, like a GPS signal. Instead, it relies on special technology in order to work.

How Does a Microchip Work?

The microchip may be tiny, but it’s actually a capsule that has a bunch of different parts in it that allow it to work. First, it’s important to note that the chip is biocompatible, which means that it’s not going to give your pet any kind of allergic reaction.

A few types of pet microchips have a special kind of polymer that allows it to stay where it is implanted, while others can roam a little from where they’re implanted.

Microchips are a permanent fixture. Over time, your pet’s cells will begin to heal around the implant and will make removal too difficult, if a surgeon could find it at all. However, that’s a good thing! The chip will not wear down over time, so it’s good for the entire lifespan of your furry friend.

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There isn’t any kind of battery or energy source inside of the microchip, so in order for it to work, it requires the use of a scanner. The scanner picks up the frequency that the microchip emits and reads the unique identification number associated with the chip.

What Pets Need a Microchip?

When you think about the kind of pet that needs a microchip, you probably think about a dog. At most, a cat would be a good candidate, right?

While that’s true, cat and dog owners can make great use of a microchip if their pet likes to escape from time to time, birds are also popular recipients of a microchip as well. Visit this website to see a few bird vets that offer this service.

How Much a Pet Microchip Costs

A sophisticated piece of technology that doesn’t wear down over time and makes your life as a pet owner a little easier is bound to cost an arm and a leg, right?

Actually, you can breathe a sigh of relief when it comes to the cost of microchipping your pet. For the most part, microchips cost around $45. That includes the fee for putting your information in a database. It’s a one time cost that you’ll never have to worry about again.

Sometimes, depending on where you purchased your pet, they might already have a chip implanted. Double check with who you got your pet from and see if there is any information that needs to be updated in terms of their microchip.

Does it Hurt?

This is probably the number one question when it comes to microchipping for pets. The last thing you want is something that is going to cause your pet a lot of pain.

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The microchipping procedure doesn’t hurt any more than a regular shot would. It isn’t a surgical procedure, it doesn’t require any kind of anesthetic.

The chip comes in a pre-loaded, sterile injector that your vet can simply slip into the right location and administer like a shot. It’s a quick process that only takes a few seconds from start to finish.

Afterward, your pet might bleed a little bit and be a little tender at the application site. Just make sure you don’t mess with the area for a day or two and there should be no complications.

Other Steps to Take to Ensure Your Pet’s Safety

Once your pet has the microchip implanted, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to be vigilant on other fronts as well. Your pet still needs to wear a collar with a name tag and any registration or vaccination tags as well.

Also, you need to ensure that you keep the information associated with your pet’s identification number up to date. This is how the agency that finds your dog is going to contact you, so you have to remember to change the address any time you move as well as the phone number associated with the account.

Microchips: A Worthwhile Investment for Many Pets

As you can see, there are almost no drawbacks to getting your pet microchipped. Everything from the pet microchip costs to the effectiveness of the device makes this a great investment for any pet owner with a fear of a missing pet.

If you want the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your information is permanently attached to your furry (or feathery!) friend, a pet microchip is the way to go.

If you want to learn more about how technology can make taking care of your pet easier, check out this article next!