The microchip is a device that allows the identification of the animal that carries it. Currently, the mandatory nature of its implantation has made the microchip increasingly known by dog keepers. Beyond the sanction that its lack may entail, the microchip is the best way to find lost or stolen dogs and dissuade all those who intend to abandon them.
In this article on our site we talk about the microchip for dogs and we explain everything you need to know.
What is microchipping for dogs?
The microchip is a device in the form of a small capsule the size of a grain of rice that is usually inserted into the side left side of the dog's neck. The chip is introduced as an injection, therefore, without any type of anesthesia, and remains under the skin, being able to move from the point of inoculation over time. This insertion will bother the dog the same as a puncture and will not cause any adverse side effects. This microchip will work throughout the life of the animal.
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Is the chip required for dogs?
The microchip for dogs is mandatory by law in many places, such as in Spain, from 3 months of age. Therefore, not putting the chip on the dog will entail an economic sanction.
On the other hand, it should be noted that this same microchip is also mandatory for cats and ferrets, but not for other animals considered exotic, such as rabbits or guinea pigs. However, its insertion is recommended for safety reasons, both for the animal itself and for environmental and he alth control reasons.
What is the microchip for dogs?
Despite its growing popularity, many keepers still wonder what this chip for dogs is for. The truth is that its main function is to associate the data of the dog with that of its ownerIn this way, if the animal is lost, causes damage or is abandoned, it is possible to know who its owner is and locate it.
How does microchipping work for dogs?
The operation of the microchip involves registering it in the database that corresponds to the place of residence. To do this, the dog's data regarding its date of birth, name and breed are collected, as well as those of the person who will appear as the owner for all purposes from that moment on. It is especially important to write down your contact details, which must always be up to date for the identification system to work. For this reason, any change in address or telephone number must be notified to the registry and ownership changed if the dog changes ownership.
Each microchip has a unique number, which will exclusively identify the animal that carries it. When a dog is found, it is possible to find out if he has a microchip or not. To do this, a device known as a "microchip reader" is passed around his neck. Veterinarians and some authorities such as Seprona have these readers. If the dog is microchipped, the unique number of his chip appears on the reader. When entering it in the corresponding database, all the information related to the dog and its owner appears, so that it is possible to contact him immediately.
Veterinarians are the professionals authorized to access this data and inform the owner. In view of the operation of the chip, its usefulness is understood when it comes to recovering lost dogs or reporting cases of abandonment, mistreatment or responsibility of the owner in the case of damage to third parties in which a dog may be involved.
On the other hand, the identification plate on the collar is also mandatory and allows you to see the owner's data much faster than through the chip. Thus, in the event that the dog is lost and someone finds it, you will not need to go through a veterinary clinic to proceed to read the information on the chip, you can call the telephone number that appears directly.
Are all microchips registered?
No, the fact that a dog from a shelter has a microchip implanted does not mean that it is registered. For this reason, it is important to verify this fact in order to register the animal and include all its data on the chip after adoption.
Requirements to chip a dog
In order to implant a microchip in a dog, it is necessary to meet a series of requirements:
- The owner must be of legal age.
- The animal must be registered in the census at the town hall. If not, you can take a census once the microchip is in place.
- The dog must have a veterinary certificate. If you have a passport, the microchip number will also be added to this document.
- The chip data should be updated whenever necessary.
Where do you put the dog chip?
The microchip can only be placed and released by a veterinarian. Therefore, you must go to a veterinary clinic if you want to identify a dog with this device, which, on the other hand, is mandatory to avoid sanctions and protect dogs against possible losses or even theft.
If a dog is adopted from a kennel or a protective association, it will be delivered already microchipped by the veterinary service they work with. In this case, it is essential that the papers accrediting the discharge be attached to the animal, where the number of the inserted microchip will also appear.
How much does a dog microchip cost?
Putting the microchip on a dog is a clinical act in which, in addition to actually placing the device, the data of the dog and the dog must be registered in the registry corresponding to the place of residence. owner. This procedure can only be done by a licensed veterinarian. It is not possible to speak of a single price for the microchip in dogs, since there are variations at the geographical level and even the amount can vary from one clinic to another within the same city. This is because the veterinary colleges establish a range of recommended prices and it is, ultimately, the professionals who determine the amount that they implant in their clinic. Thus, the price of the microchip ranges between 25 and 50 euros
The price of the chip in dogs is affordable if its advantages are valued and it is taken into account that it is placed only once in a lifetime. Still, some people wonder if it's possible to microchip dogs for free. The truth is that the chip is not free, although it can be somewhat cheaper if you choose to adopt, since the amount charged in these cases adds a chip, vaccines, deworming or sterilization, so that you pay less than if the owner had to carry out all these interventions on his own. In addition, some shelters offer free adoptions of older dogs or those in particularly vulnerable situations, such as illness or disability. In any case, if you cannot afford the cost of the chip, you should consider whether it is the best idea to get a dog.
On the other hand, what is free is to take a dog to a clinic so that they check, passing the reader, whether or not it has a microchip.
