Because Love Deserves Protection.
Has your dog ever escaped from your house or yard? Are you worried they might try? Approximately 1 in 3 pets go missing at least once during their lifetime, and many never return. A microchip greatly increases the chances of your dog being reunited with you. At Columbia Pike Animal Hospital in Annandale, we believe the best way to keep your dog connected to you is through microchipping. It’s a quick, easy, and painless procedure that lasts a lifetime.
What is a microchip?
A microchip is a tiny metal device. It's this big. It is inserted into the skin of your pet, just under the skin, and it contains a 15-digit code that correlates to a database where the owner puts their information. If this pet is ever lost or stolen, all we need to do is scan the pet, and the microchip number will come up. We'll go to the database, find the owner's information, and reunite the pet.
Does microchipping hurt my dog?
Typically, microchipping does not hurt. It looks like a large needle. It has to carry that microchip, which is about the size of a grain of rice, into the subcutaneous layer of this pet's back right here. Typically though, it really doesn't hurt.
How is microchipping done on my dog?
I'm going to demonstrate on my own little Frenchie here, Eevee. She's going to be our model today. Hi. We're going to microchip her today. I feel it's very important to microchip, and I'm going to microchip my own pet. Are we going to do it? This is my own puppy, Eevee. She's a French bulldog. She's seven weeks old, and I want to protect her. We typically place a microchip in between the shoulder blades under the skin right here. I'm going to clean the area, pinch the skin up a little bit, and clean the area. Then I take the microchip needle, insert it. Little pinch, but that's it. We're all done.
What type of microchip should I get for my dog?
Ideally, the type of microchip you want to get is an international microchip. These are always 15-digit numbers. If you ever travel internationally, you will need this microchip. It is also the biggest database for microchips. When we look up a microchip, when we find a missing pet, that database has the largest data in it.
We use the HomeAgain microchip, a tiny transponder no bigger than a grain of rice. While not a GPS device, it is a permanent form of identification. The microchip is injected under your dog’s skin between the shoulder blades, and it features an anti-migration technology that prevents it from shifting. Each microchip has a unique ID number that must be registered in the HomeAgain National Pet Recovery Database with your contact information. An unregistered microchip is useless, so make sure you complete the registration process as soon as your dog is microchipped. If you plan to travel internationally, the HomeAgain chip is ISO-compliant for global travel.
Is microchipping cost-effective?
Microchipping is really economically friendly. It's usually under $125 to microchip your pet. It's really invaluable because if there's ever an ownership dispute with you or your neighbor on who owns this pet, and if you have this pet microchipped and your name is on the registration, it is very clearly your pet. There's no dispute.
How does microchipping help reunite pets?
If your pet is lost or stolen and ends up at a shelter, police station, or airport, all of these places have microchip scanners, and they will be able to reunite you with your pet. This is a typical microchip scanner that your veterinarian, police, airport, and any shelter or humane society will have. Now that Eevee is microchipped, we just turn this on, scan mode, and there's her 15-digit number. This will be put into the database online, and my information should pop up when I register it, and I'll be reunited with her if ever lost.
What should I do if my microchipped pet is lost?
Once we microchip your pet with the unique 15-digit code, we take that code and put it on the online registry along with all of your contact information. If your pet is ever lost, the first thing you should do is contact your microchip registry. They will then be on the lookout when hopefully your pet is found and scanned, and they will give you a phone call or send you an email or whatever your contact information was for this pet and reunite you as fast as possible. The vast majority of lost pets who are microchipped find their owners.
Can microchips track my pet?
Microchipping is only used to identify your pet and you as the owner. It can't be used to track your pet. It can't be used to track you.
Thank you for watching this short video on microchipping. Microchipping is a quick, easy, painless way to make sure that you're reunited with your pet if they're ever lost.
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (703) 256-8414, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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