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FAQs About Microchipping
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What is a microchip?
The microchip is a tiny computer chip, about the size of a grain of rice, programmed with an identification number. The chip is enclosed in biocompatible glass and is small enough to fit into a hypodermic needle. Once an animal is injected with a chip, it can be identified throughout its life with this one-of-a-kind number. |
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What’s the benefit of microchipping my pet?
Microchips are permanent and can’t be lost, altered, or destroyed. Pet owners have been reunited with chipped pets that have been missing for years or that have traveled thousands of miles. |
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How does microchip identification work?
A special scanner is used to send a radio signal to the chip to read the identification number. The pet feels nothing when the scanner is placed over it. The number is displayed on the scanner, and the person reading the scanner can contact a national registry to find out who the pet belongs to. |
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How is the microchip implanted?
Microchips are implanted with a needle beneath the skin between the shoulder blades. They can’t be felt or seen. |
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How early can puppies or kittens be injected with a microchip?
Young pets can be microchipped as early as 6 to 8 weeks of age. |
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How long does the microchip last?
The microchip has no power supply, battery, or moving parts, and it’s designed to last the life of the pet. Once injected, the microchip is anchored in place as a thin layer of connective tissue forms around it. It requires no care and will not pass through or out of the body. |
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Does implanting the microchip hurt my pet?
Most pets react the same way to this shot as they do to any other. The microchip contains nothing that will burn or irritate tissue; it’s completely biocompatible. |
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Does my pet have to be sedated to be implanted with a microchip?
No. Injecting a microchip is just like any other injection or vaccination. Anesthesia is not required or recommended. |
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Could my pet be allergic to the microchip?
The microchip is inert, smooth, nontoxic, and nonallergenic. Microchip companies say there is virtually no chance of the body developing an allergy or trying to reject the microchip. |
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If a veterinary clinic or animal shelter finds a microchip, how will they know who to call?
Animal shelters and veterinarians are finding chips in more and more pets. They are aware of the national registries and routinely contact them to obtain owner information regarding the pet. They then contact owners to advise them their pet has been found. |
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I have tiny toy breeds—can I still have them implanted?
Absolutely. Puppies can be chipped as early as 6 weeks old. The same size microchip and needle are used in pets even smaller than puppies and toy breeds, including mice, baby birds, and even fish. |
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How do I update information in the registration?
After your pet is chipped, you will be given information about how to contact the national registry to update your information. Remember to do this whenever you change your address or phone number. |
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Do shelters scan animals for microchips?
Yes, scanning pets for microchips has become standard practice in animal shelters. |
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What brand of microchips does Family Pet Hospital use?
Our clinic uses HomeAgain® Microchip Identification System. |
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 How HomeAgain® Works
The HomeAgain® microchip is a tiny, rice-sized device encoded with a unique, permanent identification number. The device itself is implanted by a veterinarian just under the skin between the shoulders. Insertion is quick and virtually painless with no anesthetic or further treatment required. If your pet is lost, the microchip can be detected and the identification code read by a scanner used by veterinarians, animal shelters and other pet-related agencies. The identification code, registered with the Companion Animal Recovery (CAR), is matched to the owner or the designated contact to initiate the recovery process.
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Why Have your Pet Microchipped with HomeAgain®
- Only about 14% of dogs and 4% of cats taken to animal shelters are returned to their owners.
- 30–60% of lost pets that end up in shelters are euthanized, since they cannot be identified and reunited with their owners.
- Fewer than 25% of animals in shelters are adopted.
- Collar ID tags are easily lost and can be removed.
- Identification tattoos are difficult to remove, but may be altered, blurred or troublesome to decipher. Duplication of tattooed ID numbers is also possible.
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Microchipping is a permanent, entirely unalterable form of pet identification.
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Shelters, humane societies and veterinarians are using microchip scanners in ever-increasing numbers.
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Microchipping is inexpensive, safe, fast and virtually painless for a pet.
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With HomeAgain® Microchipping, Peace Of Mind Comes
Visit your veterinarian and have your pet permanently identified with a HomeAgain® microchip. Enroll your pet in the HomeAgain® Microchip program database. Send in your enrollment form with your payment in the pre-paid envelope provided. Once processed, you will receive a confirmation letter, which will allow you to verify all the information recorded.
We know you love your pets and that they represent an important part of your life. Microchipping with HomeAgain® is not only an essential part of responsible pet care, helping to decrease the number of unclaimed pets winding up in shelters, but also makes it easier to reunite you with a very special friend should you become separated.
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24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance Hotline
The Emergency Medical Assistance Hotline is one of the most valuable services offered by HomeAgain - it can save your pet's life. As part of your annual HomeAgain membership, you will have 24-hour / 7-days-a-week phone access to our veterinarians who can offer immediate medical assistance and connect you to an emergency veterinary clinic. This service (which normally costs $55) is free as part of your annual membership. This service is priceless when your primary veterinarian's office is closed or you are out of town with your pet.
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Unique
Each HomeAgain microchip is designed with the express purpose of storing and transmitting a unique alphanumeric code. This code represents your pet's essential identification - it is the number used by HomeAgain to determine your address and phone number, enabling your pet to return home. In addition, HomeAgain is the only microchip on the market today that has the Bio-Bond patented anti-migration feature to help ensure that the chip stays in place.
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 Size
The size of the HomeAgain microchip is one of its most significant features. About the size of a grain of rice (approximately 12mm), the microchip is so small it cannot be seen once it has been implanted. Thanks to this small size, the actual implantation of the microchip is quite easy. Your veterinarian simply injects it beneath the surface of the skin between the shoulder blades, like a routine shot. The process takes only a few seconds, is virtually painless, and requires no special treatment or anesthetic.
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For Life
Finally, and most importantly, the HomeAgain microchip has no batteries or internal energy source so it will last the life of your pet. After implantation, the microchip remains inactive until it is read with a scanner - the low radio frequency emitted by the scanner provides the microchip with the power necessary to transmit its unique code and positively identify the animal. Thus, the microchip itself has no internal power and will be able to transmit the ID code for the life of the animal.
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