What Are the Benefits of Microchipping Pets?

Microchipping pets provides a reliable, permanent way to identify them if they become lost or separated from their families. This quick, safe procedure greatly increases the chances that pets and owners will be reunited, making it one of the most important steps toward keeping animals safe and at home where they belong.

What Is Microchipping?

A microchip is a tiny device about the size of a grain of rice, painlessly injected beneath a pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. Each microchip has a unique identification number. When scanned by a vet or shelter, this number links to the owner’s contact details in a secure registry, allowing prompt contact if the pet is found.

Benefits of Microchipping Your Pet

• Helps Reunite Lost Pets: Microchipped dogs are more than twice as likely to be returned home, and microchipped cats are over 20 times more likely to be reunited with their families compared to pets without microchips.
• Permanent Identification: Unlike collars and tags, which can fall off or be removed, a microchip stays with your pet for life, offering permanent, tamper-proof identification.
• Proof of Ownership: In cases of pet theft or ownership disputes, a registered microchip provides indisputable proof that the pet belongs to you.
• Quicker Emergency Communication: If an injured, lost pet is brought to a veterinarian and has a microchip, the owner can be contacted quickly to authorize care.
• Required for Travel: Many countries and airlines require pets to be microchipped before travel, making moving or vacationing with your pet smoother and often legally compliant.

The Microchipping Process

Microchips are inserted with a needle—much like a routine vaccination. The procedure is fast and does not require surgery or anesthesia. Most pets do not seem to mind, and the process is usually done during a regular vet visit. Many animal shelters include microchipping as part of adoption or at low cost.

Is Microchipping Safe?

Microchipping is considered very safe. Common side effects include mild pain or swelling at the injection site, which usually resolves within a day or two. Rarely, chips may migrate slightly, but this does not harm pets or interfere with chip function. Severe side effects like infection or allergic reaction are extremely uncommon, and the benefits of microchipping far outweigh these minimal risks.

Registering Your Pet’s Microchip

After microchipping, registration is vital. A chip is only useful if the information is up-to-date. Register your details with the microchip company, add backup contacts, and update your details if you move or change phone numbers.

What Microchips Do (and Don’t) Do

Microchips themselves do not track your pet’s location—they are not GPS devices. They only enable identification when someone finds your pet and scans the chip. GPS collars or tags are separate products and can be used alongside microchipping for extra peace of mind.

Which Pets Can Be Microchipped?

Most common pets like cats and dogs can be microchipped, but so can other animals such as rabbits, ferrets, birds, horses, snakes, and turtles. For exotic pets, ask your veterinarian if microchipping is recommended.

Cost of Microchipping

Microchipping is affordable, often around $25 to $60. Some veterinary clinics and shelters offer discounts or free events during pet safety awareness months or as part of their adoption package.

If You Adopt a Microchipped Pet

Update the microchip registry to reflect yourself as the owner as soon as you bring a new pet home. This ensures any found pet will be returned to you, not the previous owner.

Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe

• Always use a collar and ID tags as well as a microchip.
• Keep your yard and home secure.
• Train your pet to come when called.
• Supervise your pet when outdoors.
• Double-check that your microchip registry information is current.

Final Thoughts

Microchipping is a safe, affordable, and permanent way to ensure a lost pet has the best chance of coming home. Talk to your veterinarian about microchipping today—it’s a simple action that offers lasting protection.

Related Topics:

How does microchipping improve reunion rates for lost dogs and cats?

Microchipping dramatically improves reunion rates for lost dogs and cats by providing permanent, scannable identification linked to updated owner contact details, making recovery much more likely

Impact on Reunion Rates

• Dogs: Microchipped dogs are returned to their owners at a rate of 52.2%, compared to only 21.9% for dogs without microchips.
• Cats: Microchipped cats are reunited 38.5% of the time, whereas cats without microchips have an extremely low return rate of just 1.8%.

These statistics come from major studies published by the American Veterinary Medical Association and American Animal Hospital Association, highlighting how a microchip more than doubles the odds for dogs and increases the odds for cats by more than 20 times.

How Microchips Work for Lost Pets

• Microchips contain a unique ID number, which is read by a universal scanner at shelters or veterinary clinics.
• The ID is linked to the owner’s info in a registry, so the finder can immediately call or email the owner.
• Unlike collars and tags, which often fall off or get lost, microchips are permanent and offer reliable identification regardless of condition.

Why Reunion Rates Are So Much Higher

• Microchips work even when pets lose their collars or tags, ensuring they can be identified even in challenging circumstances.
• Widespread use and universal scanners at veterinary offices and shelters make chip scanning routine, leading to more reunions.
• Up-to-date registry information is essential—owners must keep their contact details current for microchip success.

Microchipping is one of the simplest, most effective steps to help reunite families with lost pets, as the identification is secure for life and works even after long absences or accidental travel far from home.

What are the main safety concerns and evidence about microchip tumors?

The risk of tumors associated with microchip implants in dogs and cats is exceedingly rare, with veterinary experts stating that the benefits of microchipping far outweigh any potential harm.

Main Safety Concerns

• Microscopic Tumors: There have been very few documented cases of tumors (mainly sarcomas) occurring near microchip implantation sites in pets.
• Migration, Infection, Swelling: While tumor development is extremely uncommon, more typical and minor adverse events include chip migration, mild localized infection, swelling, or hair loss near the implant.
• Inflammation Risk: Chronic inflammation at the microchip site could theoretically increase tumor risk, especially in cats, where injection site tumors are a known (though still rare) issue.

Evidence from Studies

• Millions of Safe Implants: Across millions of implanted pets worldwide, only a handful of tumor cases have ever been reported, with studies failing to establish a direct causal link in most instances.
• Rodent Data Not Generalizable: Higher tumor rates seen in laboratory rodents are not seen in dogs or cats. Rodents used in studies are genetically predisposed to cancer and do not represent typical pet populations.
• Case Reports: In very rare instances, individual case reports have described tumors adjacent to microchip sites, but it is often impossible to determine whether the chip caused the tumor, or if other factors, such as vaccines or genetic predisposition, played a role.

Expert Consensus

• Leading veterinary associations, including the World Small Animal Veterinary Association and American Veterinary Medical Association, unanimously agree the benefits of microchipping—such as reuniting lost pets and proving ownership—far outweigh the minimal risk of adverse events, including tumor formation.

In summary, microchip-induced tumors are extremely rare, with only a handful of suspected cases out of millions of safely implanted pets, and current evidence does not support significant risk for dogs and cats. Regular monitoring of the implant site is advised for all pets.

How do microchip registries differ and which should I use for my pet?

Pet microchip registries differ in their fees, features, customer support, compatibility, and additional services. The ideal registry depends on factors like ease of updating contact info, whether the registry is widely recognized, and any extra services offered for peace of mind.

Differences Between Registries

• Fee Structure: Some registries charge one-time lifetime fees (e.g., AKC Reunite, PetLink, Save This Life), while others have annual subscription options or offer free registrations (e.g., Furreka, Animal Tracker UK, FINDEFIX in Germany).
• Features: Registries often provide 24/7 support, lost pet alerts, engraved collar tags, emergency helplines, and some allow various forms of ID (e.g., microchip, tattoos, rabies tags).
• Registration Options: Many registries allow any microchip brand to be registered, but some are specific to certain manufacturers.
• Accessibility: Widely used registries are more likely to be searched by shelters and veterinarians (e.g., AKC Reunite, HomeAgain, PetLink). Some offer online lookup tools like AAHA’s Microchip Registry Lookup, which helps reunite owners with lost pets regardless of registry.

Choosing the Best Registry

• Register With Major and Compatible Registries: Use a registry that is widely recognized in your country and supports your chip’s brand (like HomeAgain, AKC Reunite, PetLink, FINDEFIX in Germany).
• Multi-Registry Strategy: It’s possible, and sometimes recommended, to register your chip with multiple registries, especially in the U.S., as there is no official national database.
• Keep Information Current: The most important step is to keep contact information up to date in whichever registry (or registries) you use, as outdated info is the most common reason lost pets aren’t reunited.
• Extra Services: Consider registries that offer proactive lost pet alerts, customer support, or recovery assistance if those features matter to you.

Recommended Registries (Examples)

Registry	Fee	Features
AKC Reunite	$19.50 lifetime	Lost pet alerts, tag, poison helpline
HomeAgain	$19.99/year	24/7 support, owner management
PetLink	$19.95 lifetime	Free registration for PetLink chip
Furreka	Free	Listed in AAHA database
FINDEFIX (Germany)	Free	Large national registry

For most pet owners, choosing a recognized, user-friendly registry and always updating your information is the best strategy for protecting your pet and ensuring a fast reunion if lost.

What steps should I follow to update my contact info after moving?

To update your pet’s microchip contact information after moving, you need to identify the registry, access your account, and update your details—this process is quick and essential for your pet’s safety.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Locate Your Pet’s Microchip Number and Registry

• Check your microchip paperwork or ask your veterinarian to scan your pet if needed.
• Look up the registry using your microchip number via online tools, such as AAHA’s Microchip Registry Lookup (in the U.S.).

2. Access or Create an Account

• Go to your microchip registry’s website.
• If you haven’t yet, create an online account using your pet’s microchip number.

3. Update Your Contact and Address Details

• Enter your new phone number, address, email, and any alternate contacts.
• Double-check all entries for accuracy. Add an emergency contact if possible for additional backup.

4. Save and Confirm

• Save the changes and look for a confirmation email or message from the registry.
• Consider calling the registry’s customer service for urgent updates or if an online update isn’t possible.

5. Recheck on Special Occasions

• Get in the habit of checking your information during major holidays or before travel, when pets are more at risk of getting lost.
• Use reminders like “Check the Chip Day” (August 15) to periodically review and update your details.

By following these steps, you ensure your pet’s microchip always links to your current contact info, giving your pet the best chance for a safe return if ever lost.

How does microchipping compare with GPS collars for pet recovery?

Microchipping and GPS collars offer two very different, but complementary, approaches to recovering lost pets—microchips provide permanent identification upon recovery, while GPS collars allow real-time location tracking and active searching for missing pets.

Microchip: Identification After Recovery

• Permanent, cannot be lost: Microchips are implanted under the pet’s skin and cannot be removed or lost, while collars with tags or GPS units might fall off or be removed.
• Identification on recovery: If a lost pet is found and taken to a vet or shelter, staff can scan the microchip to contact the owner and facilitate reunion.
• No active tracking: Microchips do NOT provide location data or help find a lost pet; they only help identify once the pet is found.

GPS Collar: Real-Time Tracking

• Live location updates: GPS trackers show a pet’s current location on a phone or computer, allowing immediate searching and finding if the pet goes missing, even in remote areas.
• Proactive recovery: Owners can actively search based on GPS data, sometimes preventing pets from wandering far or getting lost indefinitely.
• Requires charging and maintenance: GPS collars need to be charged and can be removed or lost, unlike permanent microchips.

Best Practice: Use Both

• Microchipping ensures identification forever, no matter what.
• A GPS collar lets an owner track and search for a pet right away, before they are found by others.
• Using both together offers the most comprehensive protection and highest odds of recovering a lost pet safely and quickly.

In summary, a microchip helps reunite lost pets after they’re found, while a GPS collar lets owners actively locate pets in real time; combining both technologies offers optimal security for beloved animals.