How Much Does It Cost to Microchip a Dog?

Microchipping your dog is one of the best things you can do to ensure they return home safely if they get lost. If your dog gets lost and somebody finds them, they can take them to the vet to scan their microchip and bring them back home to you. With the technology available today, vets recommend microchipping your dog once they’re old enough.

You might wonder how much it costs to microchip a dog, how old they have to be, and how it all works. Getting your pet microchipped for the first time can be overwhelming, but the experts at Rolling Plains Veterinary Corporation are here to help. Keep reading to learn more about microchipping your dog and how much it costs.

What Is a Microchip?

A microchip is a tiny electronic device placed underneath your dog’s skin. This device is small enough not to cause pain or disrupt your dog’s day-to-day life, but it contains information that could be crucial to keeping your dog safe. When you have your dog microchipped, you essentially have a chip implanted in them that includes a registration number and a phone number for the registry. With this information, vets can scan the microchip in your dog and contact the registry to figure out how to contact you.

While pet microchipping has been a concept for decades, it’s become increasingly popular over the years. These days, most pet parents choose to have their pets microchipped as soon as they’re old enough for the procedure.

Is Microchipping Necessary?

You might wonder if you need to microchip your dog, especially if you’re on a limited budget. If you want to keep your pets safe, getting them microchipped is one of the best things you can do. Collars with tags are an excellent way to let people know where to return your dog if they get lost, but collars don’t always stay on. With a microchip, you can rest easy knowing your pet can be reunited with you even if they didn’t have their collar on when they were found.

Whether you just started raising a puppy or got a new kitten recently, reputable vets recommend microchipping your pets as soon as possible.

The Cost of Microchipping a Dog

One of the best parts about microchipping your dog is that it’s not a particularly expensive procedure. On average, you can expect to spend about $25 to $60 to get your dog microchipped at a community vet clinic. Your vet can walk you through the entire process, which includes getting your microchip set up with a registry.

Remember that the cost of microchipping a dog can vary a bit based on several factors, so the price range we provided isn’t an exact number. If you want to figure out how much you can expect to pay to have your dog microchipped, you can always give us a call before you schedule an appointment.

When to Microchip Your Dog

Getting your dog microchipped early on is important to ensure they’re always safe. That being said, you do have to wait until your puppy reaches a certain age to microchip them for safety reasons. Generally speaking, puppies can get microchipped once they’re eight weeks old. We recommend having your puppy microchipped at eight weeks to ensure they’re protected as soon as possible, especially if you frequently take them out in public. The sooner you get your dog microchipped, the sooner you can get peace of mind as a pet parent.

Other types of pets, such as cats, should also be microchipped once they’re old enough. If you’re unsure how old your pet must be to get a microchip implant, consult your vet.

How It Works

You might wonder how the microchipping process works and whether it’s safe and painless for your dog. When you take your puppy to a community vet clinic for microchipping, you can expect the process to be quick and simple. Microchips are about the size of a grain of rice, which means they’re easy to implant and cause minimal pain and discomfort. These microchips are implanted under the skin with a syringe, typically between the shoulder blades, because that area is less sensitive. The process usually only takes a few minutes, and you don’t have to worry about paying for an anesthetic.

If you’re also taking your puppy in to have them spayed or neutered — which you should consult your vet before doing — you can have them microchipped while they’re asleep for their procedure. This is the easiest and most pain-free way to get your dog microchipped.

How Long Do Microchips Last?

Longevity is a big concern for pet parents when it comes to microchips. The last thing you want is to lose your dog with a defective microchip that can’t be scanned. The good news is that dog microchips typically last about 25 years, so you shouldn’t have to replace your dog’s microchip once it’s implanted. Because these microchips are designed for durability, you don’t usually have to worry about the chip moving or getting damaged over the years.

Get Your Dog Microchipped

Microchipping your dog is part of being a responsible pet parent as far as most vets are concerned. Protecting your pets is essential, and microchipping dogs is the easiest way to ensure your dog can return home safely if lost. If you want to learn more about microchipping your dog, how much it costs, and what you can expect, call Rolling Plains Veterinary Clinic to consult a vet and schedule an appointment.

Categorised in: Dog Care

This post was written by Dr. Marc Phillipot