Microchips may be tiny, but the technology behind them plays a huge role in pet safety. At My Village Pet Clinic, we have heard questions about pet microchipping like, “How does a microchip even work?” or “Is it like a GPS?” Understanding what’s under your pet’s skin and how it helps bring lost pets home can give you more confidence in choosing safe microchipping for your cat or dog.
What is a Pet Microchip and How Does It Work?
A pet microchip is a small, cylindrical device that looks similar to a very small pill capsule. It’s made with a biocompatible casing and contains a passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip. This chip holds only one piece of information: an identification number. It doesn’t have a battery and doesn’t transmit data constantly.
The pet microchip remains inactive until it’s scanned by a handheld microchip reader. The scanner emits a low-frequency radio wave that “wakes up” the chip just long enough to transmit the ID number. Once that number is read, it’s matched with the corresponding owner’s contact information stored in a secure online registry. It’s fast, efficient, and meant specifically for pet recovery.
When Your Lost Pet is Found
When a lost pet is brought into a vet clinic or shelter:
- Staff use a universal scanner to detect the chip.
- The scanner reads the ID number.
- That number is entered into a registry database.
- The pet owner is contacted using the registered information.
This process often happens within hours and is responsible for countless reunions every year. In fact, microchipping a cat or dog significantly increases the chances of pets being reunited with their owners after being lost!
Is Microchipping Technology Safe and Effective?
Absolutely. RFID pet microchips have been used in animal tracking for decades, and the materials used are non-toxic and non-reactive. Once implanted, the chip stays in place and requires no maintenance. Still, you might want to have your vet scan the chip once a year during a wellness exam to confirm it’s still functioning.
The tech itself is simple, but when combined with national databases, trained shelter staff, and universal scanners, it forms a powerful pet recovery network. And as more shelters and clinics adopt standardized scanning procedures, microchip technology becomes more effective year after year. Microchipping your pet significantly increases the chance of being reunited with a lost pet.
Low-Cost Microchipping in Irving, TX
There’s no app or alert that will help if your pet goes missing and has no identification. But a simple scan of a microchip can bridge that gap instantly. My Village Pet Clinic has seen the tech work, and we trust it with our own pets, too. We are proud to offer affordable microchips to cats and dogs in Irving, TX and neighboring areas like Oak Cliff, Downtown Dallas, and Grand Prairie. Want to invest in this powerful protection for your pet? Schedule an appointment for microchipping, or ask us about bundling it with your pet’s next visit.
