How Does a Pet Microchip Work?

Do you know how that tiny gadget the vet placed under your furry friend’s skin works? A microchip is a real game-changer when it comes to monitoring your pets. But how does it work? Read on to unravel the mystery of pet microchips.
 

What Is a Pet Microchip?

Your pet’s microchip is a small electronic device, no bigger than 11 millimeters long, inserted under your pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. The microchip does not have a battery, and it does not actively transmit any information.
 

RFID Technology

Pet microchips use something called Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. It is the same technology used in those tap-and-go credit cards or the security tags on clothes in stores. When you pass a special scanner over the microchip, it sends out radio waves. These waves activate the chip, giving it enough power to transmit a unique identification number back to the scanner.
 

Getting Chipped: The Process

You might be wondering if it is painful for your pet to get chipped. It is not nearly as bad as it sounds. The procedure is quick, simple, and about as painful as a routine vaccination.
 

The vet uses a hypodermic needle to insert the microchip under your pet’s skin. It takes just a few seconds, and most pets barely notice it happening. Some might give a little yelp, but they are usually more startled by the surprise than any actual pain.
 

Once it is in there, the microchip is there to stay. It does not move around or wear out over time. Your pet will not even know it is there.
 

How Microchips Reunite Pets and Owners

Did your microchipped pet go on an unauthorized adventure and end up at a shelter or vet’s office? The staff will use a microchip scanner to check for a chip. If they find one, the scanner displays the unique ID number associated with that chip.
 

That number does not tell them who you are or where you live. This is where the microchip registry comes into play. The staff punches that ID number into a database, which displays your contact information.
 

Microchips vs. Collars

Why bother with a microchip if your pet already wears a collar with tags? Well, collars can break and tags can fall off, but a microchip is forever.
 

Think of it as a backup plan. If your pet loses their collar, that microchip becomes their ticket home. Plus, some sneaky thieves might remove a collar, but they cannot remove a microchip without some veterinary know-how.
 

Pet microchips are all about getting lost pets back home. They are like a permanent ID card for your furry friend. And according to statistics, you are more likely to be reunited with your microchipped pet compared to one without a chip.
 

Just remember, a microchip is only as good as the information attached to it. Keep your contact details up-to-date in the microchip registry. After all, your pet cannot update their address when you move.
 

For more on pet microchips, visit Liberty Animal Clinic at our Hinesville, Georgia, office. Call (912) 205-5400 to schedule an appointment today.
 

https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/pet-microchip1.htm

https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/microchipping