Microchipping your cat or dog can feel strange. You cannot see it. Your pet cannot talk about it. Yet this tiny chip can bring your animal home when everything goes wrong. You might think a collar and tag are enough. They help. They also break, fall off, or fade. A microchip stays inside your pet and holds one simple thing. A number that links to your contact information. When a shelter or clinic scans your pet, that number can save hours of fear and searching. Bakersfield animal hospital and other clinics use microchips every day to reunite families. This blog will share four clear facts. You will see how microchips work. You will see what they do not do. You will learn what to expect from the visit. You will also learn how to keep your pet’s chip information current.
1. How a microchip actually works
You do not turn a microchip on. It has no battery. It sits under your pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. It holds a unique ID number. When a shelter or clinic passes a scanner over that spot, the chip uses the scanner’s energy to send out that number.
That number links to a record in a database. The record holds your name, phone number, and address. Staff then call you. The chip does not hold your name or your phone number inside it. It only holds the number that points to your record.
The American Veterinary Medical Association explains that microchips work as a permanent ID that helps lost pets get home.
2. What microchips do and what they do not do
Microchips help in clear, specific ways. They also have limits. Knowing both helps you make a calm choice for your pet.
| What microchips DO | What microchips DO NOT do
|
|---|---|
| Provide a permanent ID that does not fall off | Track your pet’s location with GPS |
| Help shelters and clinics contact you if your pet is found | Work as a physical fence or stop escape |
| Support proof of ownership in some disputes | Store your name, address, or medical notes on the chip itself |
| Link to your contact record in a registry | Replace a collar, tag, or rabies license |
| Work for many years in most pets | Share data with the public or social media |
Microchips do not track your pet. They are not like a phone. They only work when a scanner passes close to the chip. This means you still need a collar, tag, leash, and safe home habits.
Yet tags alone fail often. One study shared by the American Animal Hospital Association showed that microchipped dogs and cats were much more likely to get back home than those without chips.
3. What to expect during a microchip visit
The visit is short. You often can ask for a chip during a routine exam or vaccine visit. You can also ask during a spay or neuter surgery. Staff place the chip with a needle under the skin.
Here is what usually happens.
- Staff scan the chip in the package to confirm the number.
- They place your pet in a steady position.
- They insert a needle under the skin between the shoulders.
- They press the plunger. The chip slides under the skin.
- They scan again to confirm the chip reads in the new spot.
The needle is larger than a vaccine needle. Your pet may flinch. The moment passes fast. Many pets do not react any more than they do with a shot. You can hold or speak to your pet if staff say it is safe. This gives comfort and helps your pet stay calm.
The chip starts working right away. You then complete the registration form. Some clinics send the form for you. Others give you a code and a website. You must finish this step or the chip will not link to your name.
4. How to register and keep your pet’s chip current
A chip with no current record is almost useless. You need three steady habits.
- Register the chip as soon as you get home.
- Update your contact information every time it changes.
- Check the chip once a year at the clinic.
First, use the form or website the clinic gives you. Enter your phone numbers, email, and address. Add a backup contact in case you cannot answer. Double check the chip number you type.
Second, update the record when you move, change phones, or change email. Many people forget this step during a move. That gap can leave a found pet stuck in a shelter while staff try dead numbers.
Third, ask the clinic to scan the chip each year. This shows that the chip still reads and has not moved too far from the original spot.
Simple comparison of ID options
You do not need to choose between tags and a chip. You can use both. Here is a quick comparison.
| ID type | How it helps | Common problem
|
|---|---|---|
| Collar tag | Anyone can read your phone number at a glance | Can break, fall off, or fade |
| Rabies or license tag | Shows your pet has shots and is registered | Does not always have your direct phone number |
| Microchip | Stays in place and links to your contact record | Needs a scanner and current registration to work |
Take the next step for your cat or dog
You cannot control every open gate or storm. You can control how easy it is for someone to get your pet back to you. A microchip is one small act that can spare you long nights of panic.
- Ask your veterinarian if your pet already has a chip.
- If not, schedule a quick visit for a chip.
- Register the chip and keep your contact record current.
You owe your pet a safe way home. A simple chip under the skin can be that lifeline when everything else falls apart.