A pet microchip implant is a small device, about the size of a grain of rice, which is placed under the skin between the shoulder blades. The chip is implanted using a specially designed needle and is quick with little discomfort for your pet. These computer chips contain your contact information and their own unique number which is placed in a database.
Myths Debunked
1) Microchips are too expensive
The price is generally around $25 to $40, but some veterinarians may charge less if done while having another procedure such as spay or neutering. If you need to change your contact information after it's entered into the database, there may be a small fee.
2) Getting a microchip will harm my pet
The implant is placed with a simple injection under loose skin, similar to having a vaccine.
3) It's not possible to give every chip a unique number
Computer microchips can hold enormous amounts of information and are designed to produce billions of identification numbers as well as the manufactures own unique code.
4) Not all shelters and veterinarians have chip readers
There are very few shelters and veterinarians in the US and Canada today that don't have universal chip readers that read all brands of microchips.
5) The microchips wear out and have to be replaced
Microchips have no battery or moving parts therefore there is nothing to wear out or replace for the lifetime of your pet. The chip receives power from the reader as it passes over and transmits the identification number. It's the owner's responsibility to update contact information for the chip in the database.
6) It's not safe for my pet to have a foreign object in its body
Microchips are made out of an inert bio-compatible substance which will not cause an allergic reaction or degenerate. The anti-migrating properties of the chip prevent it from moving into tissues or organs.