Dog Microchipping - The Purpose and Benefits of Dog Microchips

Name: Veterinary Services
Brand: Checkout Vet

What does it mean to have my dog microchipped?

A microchip is a very small (size of a rice grain) passive device that we insert underneath the dog's skin. It's pretty close to painless and goes in pretty quickly. When we insert that, it gives your dog permanent identification that allows the dog to be identified should they disappear for whatever reason.

Dr. Marty Greer
Checkout Veterinary

Can microchips be used to track my dog?

They can. It's important to understand that it's not going to emit a signal. It's not like an air tag or a GPS that can send a signal out to a device, but if your dog is found by a member of the community, by somebody at a shelter, or by a veterinary clinic, they can scan that microchip. It displays a number unique only to you and your dog so that your dog can be identified as yours and they can get in touch with you when the dog is found.

How is a microchip used to identify my dog?

That unique number is usually registered with the microchip company. There are several, but it's typically a pretty universal database. So if that ID number is detected either on the collar of the dog, if there's a tag that says the microchip number on it, or when the dog is scanned, then the microchip company can release your name and phone number, and you can be contacted by the veterinary clinic, the shelter, the police department, or whoever has your dog to get them back to you.

Who can scan my dog's microchip information?

That's a great question. At the beginning of microchipping a few years ago, there weren't as many scanners out there, so whether the dog would find you again was a little bit more questionable because if somebody didn't realize the dog had a microchip, they might think of looking for it. In the last few years, microchips have become much more universal. Most police departments, shelters, and almost every veterinary clinic have the ability to scan a dog. Once that unique number is identified, a quick phone call to the microchip company, 24 hours a day, will be able to identify who you are and how to get the dog back to you.

What does the microchipping recovery process look like in the event my dog is lost?

It's pretty fast. I've had people hear back from the microchip company before they even realize the dog is gone. If the dog slips out of the vehicle, the fence, or through a door, you'll find your dog quickly if a good Samaritan, a member of the police department, or a shelter finds it. The microchip company will be in touch with you very shortly.

Why do veterinarians recommend getting my dog microchipped?

It's the single best way to get the dog back home if something happens, they're lost, they're stolen, or if you're in a car accident and the dog gets out of the vehicle. There are a thousand things that can go wrong, anything you can possibly imagine. So it's really important to veterinarians that that dog finds its way back home. It's a real tragedy when a dog gets lost, and you never know what happened to it or get it returned to you. Knowing there's a way to get the dog back home is comforting.

What if I forget or lose my dog's microchip information?

The good news is, at our practice, we register the microchip with the microchip registration company, so you don't have to do anything other than keep your contact information up to date. If the microchip was never registered, it's at least registered to the veterinary clinic that purchased that microchip. At the very least, the microchip company knows which veterinary clinic it was, and they can contact us, and then we can go back into our records and find out who the dog is. So if you didn't keep your microchip information up to date, they'd contact us, and we'll probably have your more recent contact information to identify where you've moved to or your new phone number.

Are there other smart products that can connect to my dog's microchip?

At this point, there are starting to be a few. There are some GPS kinds of devices that are useful. There are collars and tags that people use that are GPS. But the best way is still that microchip because it is passive. Unless you're using an active GPS device, the microchip will be your best bet.

If pet owners have more questions, what should they do?

We're always happy to talk to them about it. They can give us a call at 920 269 4000 or 608 318 6700, and we can go through the information with you and schedule an appointment.

If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (608) 318-6700, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media https://www.facebook.com/Checkout-Veterinary-100856988730575, https://www.instagram.com/checkoutveterinary/

Dog Microchipping - FAQs

Dr. Marty Greer
Checkout Veterinary

How can microchipping help my dog be returned to me?

A microchip is the single most important way that you can get your dog back. Tags on collars and GPS tags, all those things can get lost or can be hung up on a fence or a tree. They can be taken off by someone who maliciously wants to keep the dog from being identified. But a microchip is permanent. It's under the skin and will be the best way of getting your dog back to you should they get lost or stolen.

Will a microchip tell me my dog's location?

Microchips are passive devices, so for right now, it doesn't emit a signal that goes to a satellite to identify the dog's location. That requires more of a GPS type of device, which is not as well developed at this point. If a police department, a veterinary clinic, a humane society, or a shelter scans the microchip, the microchip number is unique to you, and that shelter, police department, or veterinary clinic will be able to call the microchip company to get your contact information and help you get your dog back.

Do all shelters scan for microchips?

Almost every shelter at this point has a scanning device, and most microchips are universal. So universally, it is something that a microchip scanner will pick up. It would be unusual for a shelter not to be able to scan a microchip.

Does a microchip ensure my dog will be found?

There are no promises. If dogs get lost, they can end up in places where we never find them. But if your dog is found, preferably alive, or if something terrible happened to them, at least you'll have some peace of mind knowing that if your dog is available to come back to you, they will find their way back home. Hopefully, anybody that finds the dog will take them to a veterinarian or a shelter that can scan that dog and help them find their way back home again.

My dog already has a collar and tag, so why do they need a microchip?

Collars and tags can be removed. We used to do a lot of tattoos, and even tattoos can be altered. So those aren't always a guarantee, but a microchip being under the skin is something people can't find and remove. That microchip will stay with your dog forever.

What if pet owners have more questions regarding the benefits of dog microchipping?

We're happy to help out. All you need to do is give us a call at checkout at (608) 318-6700 and ask the questions that you need. We can get you scheduled for an appointment.