Microchipping Your Pet

1. Microchipping Your Pet
By: Jay Butan DVM

2. Microchipping Your Pet
An electronic chip the size of a grain of rice, the microchip offers a safe, effective way of reuniting
lost pets with their owners. Pet owners around the world have begun implanting microchips into
their cats, dogs, horses, and even livestock. When a lost pet turns up at a shelter or veterinary
clinic, professionals typically scan the pet to see if a microchip activates. The activated microchip
then relays the pet owner’s information through a microchip registry database, allowing veterinary
professionals to contact the owner.

3. Microchipping Your Pet
In a recent study, dogs with microchips were reunited with their owners 52.2 percent of the time,
compared to 21.9 percent of the time for dogs without microchips. Cats with microchips returned
home 38.5 percent of the time, versus 1.8 percent if they were not microchipped.

4. Microchipping Your Pet
Your veterinarian can implant a microchip into your pet during a normal office visit without the use
of anesthesia or surgery. The doctor simply injects the chip right under the skin, ensuring it will be
detected during a scan while avoiding contact with any major organs.

5. Microchipping Your Pet
About the author: Jay Butan, DVM, offers microchip implants for both cats and dogs. As the
primary physician at Canal Animal Hospital in Florida, Jay Butan, DVM, also provides a full
spectrum of veterinary care.