What does microchipping a dog do?

Question

I am looking at microchipping my bulldog, but what would that do if someone steals him or he gets lost? Is it something like GPS where he can located
?

Answer 1

This would be helpful if you lose your pet and you contact local vets and shelters and they post information on your dog or your dog. Then, if someone picks up a lost dog and brings them to a vet or shelter, they automatically scan for a chip and they would be returned to you. Also, if someone takes your pet and your vet has this info. about your pet being lost and they think it could be your pet, they will scan it and see that he was taken from you and reported as lost and again, be returned to you :) It only goes off the scan, it's not like a GPS though, but still helpful. Especially if you live in an area like where I do, in Louisiana, and there were so many pets left from the storm, a lot were able to be returned to their families from the chip :)

Answer 2

It's not a gps (global locator)...you can't find out where your dog is... But if someone finds your dog, any vet or shelter will scan for a chip. The chip contains limited information...primarily an id number, which is registered to you. If a chip is found, the chip manufacturer is contacted to get the current contact info. Remember to keep these records and update them with the company if you move or find a new home for your pet.

If someone steals your dog, and he's recovered, that chip will identify you as the owner.

I have found several microchipped dogs - had them back with their owners the same day...easy peasy.

The microchip itself is about the size of a grain of rice. It is injected under the skin between the shoulder blades. Not a big deal.

Answer 3

Microchipping is not GPS, but it's a great thing to do either way. If your dog gets lost and someone brings him to a shelter or a vets office they will scan him for the microchip which will produce a number. Than they will type the number into a computer, your name address and other contact information will come up. Also if you call the company that you went with for the microchip and report your dog missing they will send a red flag up on your contact information. Meaning if someone steals him and they bring him to the vet, when they scan him for the chip they will see that he was infact listed as missing.

Answer 4

No, it's not like a GPS. The microchip is usually contained in a grain of rice sized capsule which is inserted under your dog's skin with a larger bore syringe.
If your dog is lost and then picked up, the vet or pound will run a wand reader over its body to see if there's a microchip. The number on the chip is recorded with a central processing agency and will refer the vet or pound to the place you had the chip installed on your dog... and then back to you.

Unless someone who has stolen your dog takes it to a vet and your dog's scanned, having him chipped won't help much to retrieve him. And if your stolen dogs to an unscrupulous medical research lab, you won't get him back either. But a reputable research facility that buys dogs will scan and return lost/stolen dogs.

Answer 5

microchipping puts a small device, the size of a rice corn under the dogs skin. When read the number displayed is connected to your name and address information and/or a service contacting you upon being notified. There are Several companies offerering Microchip registration. If your dog gets lost you do not have to do anything as for the system working. If the dog gets to a pound or veterinary clinic as having no owner the staff will automatically scan for a microship and notify you. Of course, your dog is stolen and not taken to a vet and nobody reads the chip it won't do any good.

It is really meant in addition to an ID tag, so if the dog gets out, runs away or gets lost and loses his collar there is another way of tracing him back to you.

Check here for more info:
http://www.avidmicrochip.com/
http://www.homeagainid.com/

Answer 6

Inserting a microchip into your dog gives it an ID number that can be traced back to you. For it to work so you get the dog back, the dog needs to have the chip scanned by a vet or shelter. If someone steals your dog and it is never scanned then it will never be returned. I asked my vet and they do not scan dogs that are brought in for a routine exam. So if someone steals your dog and later on brings it to a vet for exam they will not scan it and discover that the dog doesn't belong to that person.

Answer 7

The microchip must be scanned to determine who the owner is so if your dog is stolen then you would not be able to find him just by the microchip alone. Don't put your dog in a position to be stolen always keep him where you can see or hear him.

Answer 8

If someone finds it I.E. animal control they can scan the dog and the microchip will tell them who the dog belongs to. When your dog is microchipped you register it with the microchip company so they can match the code to the owner.

Answer 9

Yes, that's exactly what it is. The microchip has your contact information on it as well, so when it is scanned by a vet, they will know who to call. Most vets participate in this program so it's nice knowing if the dog somehow gets lost, they will know he or she has a home!

Answer 10

It only allows someone to be able to find out who the dog belongs to. So, if your dog got lost and someone found him and took him to the vet to be scanned for a microchip, they would be able to find out his name, your name, where he lived, etc. so that he could be returned.