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Most owners get their dogs microchipped, but many people still have questions about the procedure. A top concern is the potential cost of the microchip and the procedure itself. You might be pleasantly surprised to find out how affordable microchipping can be, but it’s still important to understand all the potential expenses. Microchipping a dog can cost on average from $20 to $60.
The Importance of Having Your Dog Microchipped
If you follow animal news, you know that pets are returned to their homes regularly due to the benefit of microchips. If your pet goes missing and someone else finds them, any vet clinic or animal shelter can scan for the microchip, getting your contact information from it. In many instances, having your pet microchipped and the chip registered with up-to-date details can also be used to prove the pet belongs to you if someone who finds them attempts to keep them.
Most vets recommend microchips for all dogs and cats. It is a more reliable way of ensuring your pet gets home to you than collar tags. If your pet is a rescue that was previously microchipped, you will be able to update the information with the servicer to reflect the new ownership.
The Microchipping Procedure
The microchipping procedure is an easy procedure, and when possible, it’s performed while your dog is under anesthesia for their spay/neuter procedure or another procedure they may receive when young. However, microchipping can also be performed quickly and easily on a dog that isn’t anesthetized.
The microchip is kept inside a single-use injector with a large needle on the end. The microchip is approximately the size of a grain of rice, which is why the needle needs to be large, and it’s administered under the skin between the dog’s shoulder blades in a quick procedure that many dogs don’t even seem to feel. Sometimes, your dog may wince during the procedure, but the transient discomfort is over quickly. Microchipping doesn’t usually cause bleeding, and no bandage is needed to cover the area. Sometimes, however, there could be a few drops of blood at the site of insertion on the skin, while in rare cases some pets may develop a hematoma, an infection, or a foreign body reaction. All adverse effects should be reported to your vet who can pass the info on to the microchip company and other statutory organizations.
How Much Does It Cost to Microchip a Dog?
The cost of your dog’s microchip will vary based on where it’s done. Shelters and rescues often have the resources to put microchips into their pets before they are adopted. Some of these facilities will charge you an additional fee to microchip your dog, but you can usually expect it to cost $20–$50.
If your vet performs the procedure, you’re likely to spend $40–$60. This cost is unlikely to be impacted by geographical areas, but it may be impacted by individual vet clinic pricing. Microchip clinics set up by animal rescues may offer $10–$15 microchips, and in some instances, there may not even be a charge.
One cost associated with microchipping that many people overlook is that some microchip companies may charge a membership fee. You may need to pay an upfront fee to register your dog’s microchip. While the company will keep your information on record and make it available to veterinary professionals and shelter staff who can call you after reading your dog’s microchip number, it may not offer extras. Sometimes, memberships can often provide resources like missing posters, notifications to people in your area if your dog goes missing, and vet information lines.
Additional Costs to Anticipate
Some vet clinics may charge an additional fee for the microchipping procedure. Additional expenses can vary significantly between clinics, so it’s extremely difficult to say how much it might be.
Generally, clinics won’t charge additional fees on top of the microchip and procedure because their time and expertise are usually built into the cost of the microchip. Some do, though, so it’s important to request an estimate before you schedule your dog for their microchipping.
Will My Dog Need a Repeat Microchipping Later?
Microchipping is usually a once-in-a-lifetime procedure. There are rare cases in which the microchip can’t be picked up by the sensor later, though, and in even rarer cases, the microchip may fall out right after the procedure.
If your vet has checked over your dog thoroughly for a microchip and their scanner isn’t picking it up, your dog may need to have the microchipping procedure repeated. Your vet will be able to confirm if the microchip is still present by taking an x-ray of your dog. If it is and the microchip has malfunctioned, this can be reported back to the microchip company and they may cover the costs of a new microchip. Please speak to your vet in those instances in order to have a better idea of any other potential costs.
When your dog is being scanned, ensure that they are scanned in all areas of their body for the microchip. Although it’s placed between the shoulder blades, it can migrate in the body underneath the skin, sometimes ending up farther down the neck or in the lower part of the chest. Your dog’s microchip won’t migrate into an internal organ and shouldn’t cause a medical problem, however, as it remains outside of body cavities, but local reactions, infection, and swelling after application are possible in rare cases.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Microchipping?
It will be important to check with your pet insurance company to find out if it will cover your dog’s microchip. Most won’t pay for this procedure because it is considered part of preventive or routine care, which is typically not covered. There are pet insurance companies that do allow you to add policy riders that may cover this type of care, but these are few and far between, so it may be difficult to find one that will help cover your microchip cost, and due to the low cost of microchipping, it may not be worth paying higher insurance fees for this anyway.
What to Do If the Microchip Falls Out
Microchips are quite distinct in appearance, so you’ll likely know what you’re looking at. At a minimum, you’ll look at it and note that it’s something that you’ve never seen before. If your dog’s microchip comes out and you find it, take it with you on your return visit to the vet so they can scan it to verify that it was the microchip in your dog. As strange as it may sound, there’s always a slim possibility that you’ve found a microchip belonging to another animal. However, being so small, in most cases you won’t be able to see it or find it, unless it falls out immediately as it was administered while you’re still at the vet’s office.
Your vet will thoroughly check your dog for a microchip via the scanner. If your dog’s microchip has fallen out, there will not be anything residual that will pick up on the scanner and your vet will know that the microchip has either come out or malfunctioned. The only way to establish if the microchip is still present in your dog’s body is by taking an x-ray.
If the chip is absent or has malfunctioned, your vet will be able to perform the procedure again and install a new microchip. Since the first one came out, they may ask you to bring your dog back for a recheck in a few days or weeks to make sure the new one is in.
Final Thoughts
The importance of having your dog microchipped cannot be exaggerated. Microchips have proven time and time again to get missing pets home, sometimes even years after they go missing. This procedure is quick and easy. Your dog is unlikely to experience significant discomfort during microchipping, and most dogs will never need their microchip reimplanted, except in rare instances.
See also:
- How Much Does It Cost to Microchip a Dog at PetSmart? Update
- Average Cost to Microchip a Cat or Dog in the UK: Price Guide
Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock
