Dog & Cat Microchipping - FAQs for Your Pet

Microchipping is a simple and safe procedure for pets. It involves implanting a microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, under the skin of dogs and cats to help identify them.

Here’s a comprehensive and reassuring guide to pet microchipping for people who have just adopted or are about to adopt a dog or cat. Learn what dog microchipping is and what cat microchipping is.

What Is Dog & Cat Microchipping?

What is pet microchipping? A pet microchip is a radio-frequency identification transponder, housed in bioglass, that contains a unique ID number. Bioglass is used extensively for implants in animals, including newly adopted dogs and cats. Some microchips for dogs and cats have anti-migration features to ensure that bioglass capsules stay in place by bonding with the tissue under the young dog’s or cat’s skin. 

When scanned, it emits a signal that retrieves the pet owner’s contact information from a registration database. 

Most animal shelters and veterinary hospitals in the U.S. have global scanners that read microchips for cats and dogs from most manufacturers. 

Unlike GPS devices, microchips do not track the pet’s location. A pet chip tracker, including a dog chip tracker and a cat chip tracker, uses GPS. These tracking devices work externally on a pet’s body and require a power source such as a battery. 

Microchipping can go by several alternative names, including: 

• Getting a pet chipped 
• Getting a cat chipped  
• Getting a dog chipped 

How Do Dog & Cat Microchips Work?

If you’re asking yourself, how do dog microchips work, how do cat microchips work, or how do pet microchips work, read on to learn more.

Microchips are dormant until scanned and activated. Common frequencies include 125 kHz, 134 kHz (ISO standard), and 128 kHz. Most shelters and vet clinics have scanners that read various frequencies, especially the ISO standard. But does the frequency matter? Yes and no.

Virtually all shelters and veterinary clinics have scanners. It is estimated that by early 2008, there were already over 70,000 “universal scanners” in the U.S. – scanners that read all frequencies of microchips ever sold here, including the new ISO standard. 

The ISO standard is widely recommended by leading animal health organizations. If traveling outside the U.S., use an ISO microchip since many countries require it and cannot read other frequencies. 

Do not implant multiple microchips, as they can cause interference. Consult your veterinarian for the recommended microchip frequency. 

What Are the Benefits of Pet Microchipping?

The main benefits of microchipping a dog and the main benefits of microchipping a cat are: 

• They serve as a permanent identification for pets. 
• They help reunite lost pets with their families quickly. 
• They do not require a power source. 
• They are not tracking devices. 

Pet microchips are not tracking devices and do not work like GPS. They are radio-frequency identification (RFID) implants that provide permanent ID for your pet. Because they use RFID technology, microchips do not require a power source like a GPS. When a microchip scanner is passed over the pet, the microchip gets enough power from the scanner to transmit the microchip’s ID number. Since there’s no battery and no moving parts, there’s nothing to keep charged, wear out, or replace. The microchip will last your pet’s lifetime.

All pets should wear collar tags imprinted with their name and the phone number of their pet parent, but only a microchip provides permanent ID that cannot fall off, be removed, or become impossible to read. Both cats and dogs need to be microchipped.

Cats often do not wear collars and may not have any other form of ID. A recent study showed that less than 2% of cats without microchips were returned home. However, if a cat is microchipped, the return-to-owner rate is 20 times higher than if the cat was not microchipped. 

Microchips for pets carry only a unique identification number. If your pet gets lost and is taken to a vet clinic or animal shelter, your pet will be scanned for a microchip to reveal his unique ID number. That number will be called into the pet recovery service, and you will be contacted using the contact information on file with your pet’s microchip. It is vital to keep your contact information up-to-date so that you can be reached. 

Pet parents can also check to make sure their pet’s microchip is still working by asking a vet to scan it during their pet’s next checkup. Overall, microchipping is an essential step in ensuring your pet’s safety and returning them home if they get lost.

How Are Microchips Put Into the Dog or Cat and Does It Cause Side Effects?

Pet microchips are implanted by a veterinarian through a quick and painless injection, like a routine vaccination. 

In the U.S., cat and dog microchipping is typically injected along the dorsal midline, just between the shoulder blades. The next steps are as follows: 

1. The animal-care professional should scan for existing microchips prior to implanting a new one – this step takes 10 to 30 seconds. 
2. Skin is pinched to create tension, and the microchip is injected within a few seconds. 
3. Ensure the microchip remains in place before withdrawing the needle. 
4. Complete the pet chip registration forms. 
5. Your pet should avoid rigorous exercise for 24 hours to allow the microchip to settle properly. 

Pet microchipping side effects are rare and may include swelling, pain, chip migration or allergic reactions, but they are generally comparable to a routine vaccination. 

Where Do You Get Your Dog or Cat Microchipped and How Much Does It Cost?

Are you wondering, where can I get my dog microchipped, where can I get my cat microchipped, or where can I get my pet microchipped? The good news is that microchipping is widely available and usually a quick, simple procedure. If your pet was adopted or purchased, check their adoption paperwork first – many shelters, rescues, and breeders already include microchipping as part of the adoption package. If you’re unsure, your veterinarian can easily scan your pet to confirm whether a chip is already in place.

If your pet doesn’t yet have a microchip, you can typically get one at: 

• Veterinary clinics: Most vets offer microchipping during regular appointments, wellness exams, or even at the same time as spaying/neutering.
• Animal shelters and rescues: Many shelters provide low-cost microchipping services to the public, often during special events or clinics.
• Pet stores and adoption events: Some larger pet retailers or adoption fairs partner with veterinary groups to offer discounted microchipping.
• Local animal control or humane societies: Municipal animal services frequently hold low-cost clinics where microchipping is available alongside vaccines.

Are you also wondering, how much does microchipping a dog cost, how much does microchipping a cat cost, or how much does microchipping a pet cost? The price depends on your location and provider, but it’s generally affordable. On average, microchipping costs between $25 and $60 per pet, which is a one-time fee. This usually includes both the chip itself and the initial registration in a pet recovery database. Some organizations also offer lifetime registration at no extra cost, while others may charge a small additional fee for updates or advanced features, like lost-pet alerts. 

When you consider the peace of mind it provides – knowing your pet has a permanent form of identification that can help reunite you if they’re ever lost – the cost of microchipping is a small, but worthwhile, investment in your pet’s safety.

How Do I Register My Pet After He Is Microchipped?

To ensure your pet’s safety after microchipping, register the microchip in a national recovery database with your contact information. Keep your contact details up-to-date so you can be reached if your pet is found.

What Happens If My Dog or Cat Is Lost and Then Found?

When a pet goes missing, they may be taken to an animal shelter or veterinary clinic. Though it is generally accepted that most pets are found within a few minutes of their home and have a greater likelihood of returning to their owners if the person who finds them keeps them safe and near where they were found, they can also get reunited with their owners at an animal shelter or veterinary clinic. Staff will scan for a microchip, contact the recovery database, and notify you to pick up your pet. Because pets tend to be found close to their home, most shelters recommend that the person who found the animal first ask those nearby if the pet is theirs.

How Do I Update or Change My Pet’s Microchip Information?

To reunite with your lost pet, ensure that their microchip is registered after pet microchipping, and that your contact information is current. It’s important to know how to change microchip information. Follow these steps:

1. Verify Registration: After microchipping, check the registry to confirm your pet’s microchip is registered and your contact details are accurate.   
2. Update Microchip Information: If any details are outdated, contact the microchip registry where your pet is enrolled to learn how to update microchip info online or to get the telephone number when calling to know how to update dog microchip info or cat microchip info. 
3. Finding The Microchip Information: Any veterinary office or shelter with a microchip scanner can access your pet's microchip information if you are unsure what it is and provide it to you for registry.

Keeping your contact information up-to-date is crucial for effective reunification.

For more expert tips on adopting pets, explore our other pet adoption articles.