Comprehensive Guide to Puppy Microchipping

1. Introduction

Puppy microchipping is of growing importance for pet owners who are concerned about their pet's safety. Questions often arise regarding the safety of the procedure. Additionally, some may wonder about more practical concerns like the price and maintenance of the microchipping process. The enforcement of a law in the UK, which mandates that all dog owners microchip their puppies, has brought the topic of puppy microchipping to the forefront. Across the world, microchipping is considered a safe and secure method that confirms a dog's identification permanently.

Microchipping pets also provides peace of mind for pet owners, which makes it a worthwhile investment. Microchipped pets can be identified over multiple systems, which is a convenience for the owners. Advanced microchipping technology has also made it cheaper and more efficient to get a puppy microchipped than ever before. It is important to have the microchip's registration information up to date, as moving to a new address or getting a new telephone number would render the microchip obsolete. While considering puppy microchipping and its responsibilities, it is advisable to have insight into how the process works and the factors needed to monitor.

2. Benefits of Microchipping Your Puppy

1. Increased chance of pet recovery 2. Permanent - unlike a collar or tag, a microchip cannot be lost or removed. 3. Having your puppy microchipped gives you the peace of mind that should your pet be lost or stolen, they can be identified. 4. A microchip is not a GPS system; it is a radio-frequency identification transponder that carries a unique number. It only acts as an identity tag. 5. Cost-effective and a lifelong asset. 6. Demonstrates responsible pet ownership. There are countless benefits to having your new puppy microchipped, with the most obvious being the significantly increased chance of your puppy being recovered if it ever went missing. When you consider that 1 in 3 pets will go missing at some point in their life, then it just simply makes sense to have your new fur baby microchipped as well! Moreover, when people cite their hesitations with microchipping, the most common one is not too different from the common reasons people have for not carrying an ID: "My puppy will never be lost. I am too careful." Yet, wearing an ID and having a microchip in your beloved fur baby will provide you with peace of mind in retrospect. Microchips are cost-effective and a lifelong asset, costing anywhere from $20 to $75 one-time, with no monthly or annual fees; additionally, some veterinarians and shelters may even host periodic days or events to have pets microchipped at discounted rates. Furthermore, the microchips themselves are designed to last for 25 years, so by having the procedure done, you are giving your pet a lifetime’s worth of security! Overall, deciding to have your puppy microchipped is one of the decisions that come with caring for a new puppy. Being a responsible pet owner goes beyond feeding and exercising, and what some may consider as extras, such as training and microchipping, are essential parts of setting your puppy up to lead a long and happy life with you.

3. The Microchipping Process

Microchipping has two key components: the physical implant beneath the puppy's skin and the details contained within the chip itself. Any changes to this record of information need to be recorded on the national database managed by the implanter or chip company. By doing this, every time a lost puppy is taken to a vet surgery or dog warden, the most important people to find are supported in their search for the pup's owner. Therefore, the recording details aspect and remembering that puppies need to be registered is important.

The microchip, which is a tiny computer chip about the size of a grain of rice, must be implanted professionally. Chip positioning is not as chilling or painful as it sounds. The chips are implanted under the pet's epidermis, usually in the fossa behind the pet's neck and between the shoulder blades. In a short period, the service provider will use a needle to implant the chip between the pet's shoulder blades. It equates to the puppy getting an injection, except that the 15 numbers inside the microchip are now transported. Each chip contains a 15-digit number unique to the chip and pet, which identifies the pet when the number is read by a microchip reader. The puppy is fine, and the entire process will take about 2 to 3 seconds. If you have any queries regarding puppy microchipping, kindly let us know. We are here to help.

3.1. Implantation Procedure

It is recommended to implant the microchip by a veterinarian, considering the safest setting to conduct the implantation. Hold your puppy still or help to position it if needed; protect yourself with the help of a second person or an assistant in case your puppy is too restless or overly aggressive. Puppies trust the cooperation of those who coddle them, but a very unsettling environment can stress them. Think about it: you are in contact with a living being that needs special care outside of the thermoregulatory condition. The environment need not be sterile, but the implantation procedure must be carried out by a competent person or under the special supervision of veterinary surgeons.

Although a needle is used to implant the microchip while injecting it, implantation is similar to injection procedures. It is as tolerable as a needle stick; the needle cutaneous threshold sensation quotient is generally low among pets, and the implantation is usually rapid. While it is hard to say whether the puppy feels discomfort during the implantation, there are minor side effects such as minor movement reactions during the implantation or a sudden look if it is not implemented under proper restriction: the puppy knows it's a bit inconvenient, and then it shows you that 'I don't like it.' Certainly, pain, agony, and blood do not occur during, after, or long-term after the implantation. After the implantation, it is an absolutely normal situation for the attached operator or assisting personnel to shake the puppy's meal box or do exercises to create an artificial joy to cover short-term discomfort and to bring the puppy back to remove negative memories. As long as the operator shows no anxiety or stress, the puppy gives a response in the order of a reflected response. The veterinarian has no need to transmit their feelings of difficulty to pets, since they pick up on exaggerated stress, which makes them feel uncomfortable. Briefly encourage the animal by speaking calmly and assure it that it will soon be over. Afterward, it is beneficial to observe from the beginning of restriction; for psychological and educational reasons, it is always better to immediately initiate the restriction after implantation. If the procedure is carried out meticulously, puppies are expected to experience no complications, troubles, hematoma, or edema after implantation.

3.2. Microchip Registration

Once the 315 kHz ISO ferromagnetic microchip or transponder has been implanted, the next step is to register it. Without registration, a microchip is no more than an inert piece of matter – albeit one embedded just under the surface of the skin. Registration of the microchip (and updating the registration if the animal’s or the owner’s contact information changes) is crucial in ensuring the microchipping of an animal will be effective. Some microchip processing companies also offer databases, listings, and certified pedigree registries that are highly secure.

To register a microchip after implantation, access the registration forms used by their nationwide call registry services. Usually, the information required includes the pet owner’s name and telephone number, the pet’s name, breed, sex, date of birth, and color, plus the secondary contact person’s name and telephone number. Most offer either free or affordable enrollment plans with annual fees. Non-profit rescue organizations and foster volunteers will receive a slightly discounted price. Annual membership or transaction fees are subject to change. Choose a level of service. An annual service fee will give you indefinite protection. Do it immediately to ensure you are protected. Dogs and cats are prone to being lost or stolen. There’s no need to worry when a pet locator is available to keep your pets safe.

Many pet owners fail to register their pet’s microchip. Others neglect to update the information when they change their telephone number, move, or the pet is given away. Failing to register the microchip and update the registration information renders the microchip useless. There must be a link between the hidden microchip and an external database that provides a way for someone who finds a lost pet to identify the pet and contact its owner. Only through registration and continuous updating of the registration information will a microchip provide the value associated with being a pet owner or custodian.

4. Common Misconceptions and FAQs

Common Misconceptions

- Will the microchipping process hurt my puppy? Both veterinary professionals and experienced pet owners agree that your pup may feel a moment of discomfort during the microchipping process, but the pain is minor and temporary. Further, having your puppy implanted with a microchip doesn't carry the health risks and side effects associated with some forms of vaccinations or parasite treatments. - Can the microchip move from the spot where it was implanted? One study found that only about 1% of microchips drifted away from the original implantation site. This is a tiny percentage, which means that the great majority of microchips will stay exactly where the vet put them. - Will the microchip track my puppy's location if they go missing? Microchips are not effective tracking devices. Their main purpose is to reunite lost pets with their families by providing your personal contact information to people who find your lost pet. Microchips don't have GPS or an internal battery. They don't track your pet's location and can't be used to listen in on your pet's activities.

There are also a few frequently asked questions that are based on outdated information. Here are a few examples: - Why do I need a separate microchip scanner to check for a chip instead of using the scanner that was used to chip my puppy? Update: New universal scanners can detect the majority of microchips currently in use, so any universal scanner should do the trick. There are many misconceptions about microchipping for puppies that pet owners have. Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions: - Will it hurt my puppy? - What if the microchip moves to another spot in my puppy's body? - How can I use the microchip to track my puppy's movements? - Why can't the microchip be checked with the same scanner that was used to install it?

5. Microchipping Laws and Regulations

Not all areas have made microchipping illegal pets a legal requirement. However, the rules and regulations on this matter vary significantly around the world, even within countries or regions. It is a legal requirement to have your puppy microchipped in the UK. Your legal responsibilities as a puppy owner will vary anywhere in the world, but in general, the trend is for keeping countrywide pet registries and any puppy or kitten buyer or adopter informed about legal microchipping before a pet is even purchased or adopted. Communities, through their elected officials, are beginning to discuss the value of mandating a form of microchipping for all dogs to increase owner compliance, so owners have a degree of responsibility for the behavior of their dogs. That being said, simply because an area cannot mandate it for the entire population of dogs does not mean that they cannot mandate it for the dogs under their jurisdiction. Some areas may also enforce some form of required microchipping for dogs without a current pet license. The enforcement may be that a pet owner who is issued a pet license waives the microchip requirement for that year, or is issued a pet license with a dual requirement. It ranges from an inability to purchase a pet license if a dog is not microchipped to any combination of fines, impound fees, penalties, reclamation or redemption fees if a dog is found to not be microchipped when it should have been. The details vary widely from area to area.

References:

Tanzeem, M., 2024. Regulating Small-Volume Dog Breeding: Exposing the Hidden Problem. shu.edu

Menor-Campos, D. J., 2024. Ethical Concerns about Fashionable Dog Breeding. Animals. mdpi.com

Duncan-Sutherland, N., Hunt, M., Alatini, M., Shepherd, M. and Kool, B., 2023. Study of dog control strategies. Injury prevention, 29(3), pp.219-226. [HTML]

Gregory, R. K., 2023. … than human animals and their claim to equal consideration in coronavirus and criminological study: Examining harm to domesticated dogs during COVID-19 in the UK. Social Sciences. mdpi.com

Walsh, E. A., 2023. Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Welfare and on the Behavior of Puppies and Dogs in Ireland. Journal of Applied Animal Ethics Research. [HTML]

Nurse, A., Guest, C., & Miles, L., 2021. An investigation into measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible ownership amongst dog owners with dog control issues in the UK. ntu.ac.uk