Microchips are a safe and painless way to protect your dog.
Microchip implants are an unobtrusive, permanent solution to dog identity. Many dog owners worry about the possibility of losing their pet should it escape from the yard or slip its leash. Microchips are invisible and impossible to detect without scanner equipment, so unlike collar tags, microchips can't be accidentally lost or become worn with use.
How Microchips Work
Each microchip has its own ID number, which is related to your personal contact details and held in a secure database. Should your dog stray and end up in a shelter or humane society, a special scanner is used to read the ID number contained on the microchip. Once the ID number is known, the corresponding owner information can be recovered from the database. The scanner operates at 125 KHz and is totally safe.
Microchipping is Painless
Many dog owners worry that the implanting process will be painful. The tiny microchips, which are small enough to fit into a hypodermic needle, are implanted beneath the dog's skin usually between the shoulder blades. The dog feels no more discomfort than it would during a routine vaccination. Once in place the microchip will (usually) last a lifetime.
Most Popular Microchips
AVID (American Veterinary Identification Devices) and HomeAgain from Schering-Plough are the two most popular microchips in use today. Both companies operate separate databases that are available 24 hours a day throughout the year. AVID operate the PETrac database and HomeAgain run the AKC-CAR (American Kennel Club - Companion Animal Recovery) database.
Microchip Database Security
Because the microchip is scannable, some dog owners worry that anyone will be able to access their personal details. The microchip, once scanned, reveals only its unique ID number. The ID number then has to be looked up in a secure database before any personal details can be revealed.
Update Your Details
Although the microchip only needs to be implanted in the dog once during its lifetime, the corresponding details that are entered into the database should be updated as necessary. For instance, if you move to a new house, get a new telephone number or change any other contact details, you should inform the relevant microchip database authority so the record can be updated with your new contact information.
Microchip Costs
According to HomeAgain, getting a microchip for your dog is fairly inexpensive. It's a one-off fee and often includes the cost of registering with the relevant database. Adopted dogs may already have a microchip, so if you're not sure whether or not your dog carries a microchip, either ask your vet for a scan or check the adoption papers.
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