Microchips reunite lost pets with their owners. As veterinarians and pet owners, we recommend microchipping as a safe, permanent, and effective way to identify your pet should he or she ever stray from home.

A microchip is a tiny computer chip that has a unique identification number programmed onto it. The microchip is encapsulated in a biocompatible material that does not cause a reaction from the body, and it is so tiny that it fits through a hypodermic needle. When scanned by a scanner common in animal hospitals and shelters throughout the U.S., the microchip reports its number to the scanner so your pet can be matched up with your contact information.

Implanting the Microchip

The doctor can implant the microchip as part of any appointment with your pet. The process is quick and easy. Your pet may notice slight discomfort during the administration but most pets don’t even react to the administration.

Registering the Microchip

After implantation, you will need to register the microchip with the national database of pet microchips. To register the AVID microchip we administer, visit www.avidid.com/pettrac or call 1-800-336-2843. For a moderate fee, the registry will record your name, address, and contact information and keep it on file for the life of your pet. Remember to update the registry with new information whenever your contact information changes.

The microchips and readers commonly used in the United States operate on a different frequency than the chips and readers in many other countries. If you expect your pet to remain in the U.S. you should choose the U.S. type of chip, as many readers used throughout the U.S. cannot read international chips. However, if you plan to take your pet out of the U.S., then you may need a microchip that complies with international standards.

We can implant either type. We regularly stock and normally implant the U.S. chip, but we are happy to special order and implant the international chip upon request.

Our microchip reader is a universal reader that can identify and read the information from both types of chips.