Q: What is microchipping? How do you do it?
A: Microchipping is a small chip that is implanted into an animal to track it.
A needle is used to place a little chip under the animal’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. That chip has a unique number on it that can be picked up and read by a scanner.
Q: Is it painful to my pet?
A: It hurts about as much as having blood drawn. It’s a large needle. There’s a pinch.
Q: How long does it take, and does it have to be done by a veterinarian?
A: It takes the same amount of time it takes to give any injection. It takes seconds. It takes more time to do the paperwork than implant the microchip.
No, it doesn’t have to be done by a veterinarian, although it’s recommended a veterinarian do it.
Q: Do all shelters scan for microchips when they find a pet?
A: All shelters should scan any pet that comes in for microchips and they should do so with a universal scanner.
