A microchip is a small, electronic chip enclosed in a glass cylinder that is about the same size as a grain of rice. The microchip itself does not have a battery—it is activated by a scanner that is passed over the area, and the radio waves put out by the scanner will activate the chip. The chip transmits the identification number to the scanner, which displays the number on the screen. The microchip itself is also called a transponder. The purpose of the microchip is to help reunite the pet with the correct family in the event that they are separated.
The microchip is injected under the skin using a hypodermic needle. The needle is slightly larger than those used for typical injections, as to accommodate for the microchip which is slightly larger than a grain of rice. No surgery or anesthesia is required, although a microchip can be implanted during a procedure if a pet is undergoing anesthesia anyway. Otherwise, it can be quickly done at any routine appointment!
The microchips presently used in pets only contain identification numbers. The microchip is not a GPS device and cannot track your animal if it gets lost.
One amazing thing about current pet microchips is the ISO mandate. The International Standards Organization (ISO) has approved and recommended a global standard for microchips. The global standard is intended to create an identification system that is consistent worldwide. So if a dog implanted with a microchip in the United States travels to Europe with its owners and becomes lost, the European scanners in would be able to read the dog's microchip and reunite the pet with its American owner!
When an animal is found and taken to a shelter or veterinary clinic, one of the very first things the staff does is scan the animal for a microchip. If they find a microchip, and if the microchip registry has accurate information, they can quickly find the animal's owner. Always be sure to update your contact information with the microchip company whenever any of it changes; new phone number, moved to a new location, etc.
For microchipped animals that weren't returned to their owners, the most common reason was an incorrect or disconnected owner telephone number in the microchip registry database. So don't forget to register your pet’s microchip, and keep your contact information up to date.
Here at Windsor Animal Hospital we use microchips by Home Again. Home Again has reunited over 3,000,000 lost pets with their families, and they have a 24/7 helpline in the event your pet goes missing.
As of writing this, our Home Again Microchips are $52 and are available upon request and by appointment only.
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