Why is microchipping your pet so important?

Despite our utmost care, pets can get lost. Especially when the pet’s collar accidentally falls off, how should we find our furry child?

To protect our pets, many owners have their pets microchipped. Microchips are tiny transponders, about the size of a grain of rice, that cause no additional harm to the animal. Most veterinarians and animal shelters will implant them under your pet’s skin; these microchips are coated with an anti-dissociation substance that holds them in place under the skin.

Microchips, unlike GPS devices, cannot be used to track your pet’s whereabouts. It’s just a unique identifier that’s been implanted. This string of numbers is your pet’s identification number.

Microchips are an important backup option for pet identification, but implantation alone is not enough. Pet owners also need to register their pets. Only the registered microchip number can be associated with the pet owner’s information.

That said, a microchip can provide extra protection in case your pet loses its collar or tag. Studies have shown that microchipped pets are more likely to be returned to their owners than pets without microchips.