Microchip for Dogs
Millions of dogs are lost each year and unfortunately only a small percentage of them are ever re-united with their owners.
Collars and tags are important but these can come off or be damaged and all identity is lost.
As a dog owner therefore it should be important to you that your dog can be identified at all times.
Fortunately today we have the technology to be able to permanently identify our dogs with a little device known as a microchip.
Employing the use of a microchip for dogs, it is easy to determine whose dog has been lost by using a scanner which can read the chip which has a unique code that is linked to the owners name and address.
For your dog to have a microchip you will need to visit your vet, who can do this for you.
This is a two minute job which is accomplished by injecting the chip just under the skin in between the shoulder blades of your dog and is quite painless. Your vet will normally also fill in your details to be linked to the chip.
The microchip for dogs is no bigger than a grain of rice and once there, due to the construction of the chip, it will last for life.
Once the chip is implanted it can be activated by use of a special scanner which activates the chip. The chip now sends a signal back to the scanner containing a unique identification number.
The identification number is stored on a data base and is matched to your details so if your dog is lost and is taken to a shelter or vet all they need to do is scan for the chip, get the number and check the data base to find the owner.
The dog microchip registry of information in the U.S.is currently maintained by the manufacturers of the microchip as the practice of micro-chipping of all dogs is not mandatory.
Microchip for Dogs – Different in Europe
If you are traveling outside the U.S. into an EU country and taking your dog with you then a micro chip is mandatory and it will be scanned by immigration officers when you arrive.
In Europe nearly half of all cats and dogs are chipped and certainly all rescue dogs must be chipped before you are allowed to take them home.
The idea of micro-chipping your pet in the U.S. is currently possibly as low as 7%-8% and nowhere near as popular as in Europe.
This may in part be due to some who believe that microchips cause cancer in animals and much has been written about this.
Now from what I have read this is in no way conclusive from the tests that have been done but I am not an expert in this field so if you have concerns regarding this I can only advise you voice your concerns with a qualified Veterinarian who will have far more information on this.
Both of my dogs are rescue dogs and where I live in Spain you are not given a choice as to chip or not to chip it just seems to be the thing everyone does here and to my knowledge both dogs are absolutely fine.
