7 Secrets of Pet Microchips

Pet microchips can be a great way to recover lost pets and to give you peace of mind in case this ever happens. Here are 7 secrets of pet microchips that you need to know.

1. Lower Insurance Premiums

Pet microchips can lower your pet insurance premiums dramatically. This is because most pet insurance policies have a feature where they give you money to find your lost pet. They know that pets with microchips are much more likely to be found.

2. Dramatically Increase the Chance of Recovery

Something like 90% of lost pets are never recovered, but this number can be dramatically reduced if your pet is microchip, so have it done today!

3. 4 Different Types of Chips

There are four different types of chips, which causes a problem if your pet shelter has a scanner that is only compatible with only one or two of these types. Newer scanners can read all four types, but there are lots of old scanners out there. So make sure your pet is microchipped with a very common type of chip for best chances of recovery.

4. Size of the Chip

Most chips are very small and are about the size of a large grain of rice.

5. How the Chip is Implanted

The microchip is usually implanted between the shoulder blades of dogs and cats and is placed just below the skin, and not in any muscle or body cavity. A large bore needle is used for this and no incision is needed.

6. How Long Do Pet Microchips Last?

Most of these chips last for decades longer then your pet will live, so there is no danger in your pet outlasting the chip.

7. How Does It Work?

Microchips have no internal power source, and are passive RFID (radio frequency identification) technology. Most chips are made of three components. A silicon chip, a coil conductor, and a capacitator. All of this is sealed in a special biocompatible glass, so it will not harm dog health or cat health. Pet Microchips are only powered when the scanner is close and then it emits its unique number to the scanner.