Health Facts - Canine Microchip
TO CHIP OR NOT TO CHIP
by Margot Schwag, VMD
Canine microchip technology has been in existence since 1987. The microchip is actually a grain of rice-sized transponder made up of a silicon chip and an antennae sealed within a biologically inert glass capsule. The microchip is "turned on" as it is scanned, thereby broadcasting the dog's identification code. A scanner retrieves the information and displays the number. Each animal is assigned a unique number. The numbers are then stored in a database. There are four major manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada. Each keeps its own central registry.
Microchips are implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades using a hypodermic syringe-like instrument. No sedation or local anesthetic is necessary. Any discomfort only lasts a second or two. Microchips should be scanned on a yearly basis to ensure they are functioning properly. The chips will normally continue to function beyond the animal's lifespan.
After the chip is injected into the subcutaneous tissue, the owner will fill out a form including their name, address, phone number and that of an alternate contact person, the pet's veterinarian and the pet's name, sex, breed, age, identifying features, etc. The animal will not be registered until the registry enters the information into their data base. Registration fees are approximately $12.50. Implanting fees run between 40 and 60 dollars, depending on the microchip company and the veterinarian's fee. Each animal receives a tag to be displayed on the pet?s collar, letting shelters and others know the pet is chipped.
How is your lost pet returned to you? Should your dog be retrieved by the local police, humane league or vet, the pet will be scanned. After the I.D. number is retrieved, the appropriate database will be contacted and the owners will be phoned immediately. Don't worry - every retrieved dog is scanned regardless of whether or not it is wearing a collar.
Currently, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has the largest central database registry. It will register all manufacturers' chips and their database is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The major downside currently is that the microchips are not all standardized (i.e. one company's scanner cannot read the next company's chip). Steps are being taken to eliminate this dilemma and this issue should hopefully be resolved within two years. Animal shelters are supplied with scanners that can read all chips.
The other less frequent problem is that if "John Q. Public" finds a chipped dog without a collar and chip I.D. tag in a remote part of town, will he even know that this technology exists and that the dog needs to go to a shelter or veterinarian where it can be scanned? For this reason I still recommend that pets be tattooed as well as chipped. At least this way the finder can see that this is a loved and cared for pet that someone obviously wants returned.
Another bonus of chipping is that some local municipalities are also contemplating the use of chip technology, instead of tattooing, to license a dog for its lifetime, thereby eliminating the need to renew their license yearly.
In summary, micro-chipping is a safe, permanent, and unalterable alternative to identify your pet.
Best Paw Forward assumes no liability for injury to you or your pet incurred by following these descriptions or procedures.
