According to American Humane Society, 1 in 3 dogs get lost during their lifetime, with only 17% of them being recovered. Luckily, there are ways of guaranteeing your dog’s security such as dog tags and microchips which apparently is the more advanced approach in this kind of matter. Although the traditional method of using dog tags is quite helpful for some, there are still recurring issues with it especially when your dog is an expensive breed.
Consequently, many resort to the microchipping method. So, how much is the average cost to microchip a dog?” Before answering such question, is it really practical and important to do this?
Well, dogs are man’s best friends and for centuries they truly have proven this to be true. Dogs for most people are more than just pets – they consider them indeed as a part of their family. Moreover, these furry pets have paved their ways into the hearts of people across the globe. Even if you claim to detest dogs, chances are if you are given the opportunity to own one, they will truly melt your heart since they are that friendly and charismatic.
Most dog owners have had an experience of their dogs slipping out the door and disappearing all of a sudden. This can be such a traumatic and saddening predicament to most owners and certainly you don’t want to experience this kind of incidence and you don’t want to leave your chances on dog tags alone. That is why the method of microchip for dogs has been widely made available for these kinds of concerns. However, you must prepare yourself for the dog chipping prices and its recurring factors.
The Average Cost of Dog Microchips
Although, there are only few things that affect the overall price range of having your dog inserted with a microchip, you still have to consider these things most especially if you intend to have and follow a strict budget. Now, the average cost of acquiring a dog microchip is between $20 and $50 in the recent times depending on the type of microchip to be inserted.
There are several types of microchips which can fall from being an expensive class or cheap types. The cheap types are actually enough but if you want more innovative features and the like then resort to the expensive microchips. Furthermore, the location of installation in the dog’s body will also affect the dog microchip cost.
Locational and Other Factors
The one who will administer the insertion of microchip to your dog will be the largest factor you have to consider since this matter will largely affect your expected budget. The professional fee for a veterinarian would range to about $50 up to $100.
Apparently, veterinarians from New York and California charge a more expensive price in comparison to other states and cities. You always have to take into considerations that the geographical area where you live will also affect the overall costs and expenses since the more expensive of costs of living, the higher the rates of every professional in that specific city or location.
On the other hand, if you want to pay lesser bills, instead of having a professional veterinarian place the chip, you can go to a pet shelter and have the microchip installed at a lesser price.
In addition, some pet shelters and stores sell dogs and pets that are already installed with respective microchips. You may also adopt if it will fall under your preferences. Accordingly, adopting dogs from pet shelters will then save you a couple bucks.
Microchips vs Dog Tags
The average cost to microchip a dog is typically more expensive in comparison to the regular dog tags. However, the former option and approach offer a lot more advantage and secure protection for your dog that will surely enable you to retrieve your lovely and furry pet if they ever get lost in time.
Also, the information placed on the chip can always be changed without removing it, whereas changing the information on a dog tag will require you to have it replaced from time to time. Also, details can be easily erased or washed off.
How Dog Microchip Works
A microchip is a tiny computer chip with approximately the size of a grain of rice that can be implanted usually between your pet’s shoulder blades. The information encoded in each microchip is entered in an international database.
Several clinics and animal shelters have microchip readers that can be quickly used to determine the dog’s information via the microchip. In case your dog might get lost, clinics can use the scanner to determine which database the dog is registered in. They can then match the dog’s database number with your phone number and have you notified in a matter of seconds or minutes.
The Pros of Dog Microchip
One major advantage of using dog microchip is that it lasts accordingly to your pet’s lifetime. Once initial registration is done then you are all set. However, in cases of revisions in the dog’s information, you may have to keep the registry informed about the changes especially for contact numbers and details.
Microchips are implanted only in one area of a dog’s body. It is very seldom to see chips migrating to other body parts. Moreover, they are durable and are rarely damaged. To monitor the condition of your dog’s microchip, it is advisable to have your dog scanned annually by a veterinarian or specialist.
Contrary to what most people believe, microchip implantation is painless and does not require any anesthesia. The set up is like having your dog vaccinated and it rarely shows any violent or negative reaction. It’s that simple and easy.
Drawbacks and Disadvantages
However, just like any technology, it has its downsides as well. For one, dog microchip cost is much expensive than the price of the dog tags. Secondly, the information embedded in the microchip is only useful if the clinic has its own scanner.
Most animal shelters and veterinarians have already adapted this modern technology and are already equipped with their scanners. However, for far flung areas or in small towns, you only get a 40% chance of coming across a clinic that has a microchip reader.
If your dog strays to a person that is not knowledgeable enough about the technology, he or she will have a hard time identifying your dog since microchips are inconspicuous in a dog’s body. This is why inspite implanting a microchip to your dog – you should have them wear collars or ID tags too which also include your contact information.
Doing this, will help people who are unfamiliar with the technology recognize and identify your dog. If ever you lost your dog, make sure to notify the microchip provider. You can always send an e-mail to the clinic and have them notified about the loss. They can then offer assistances and helps in recovering your dog based on the microchips specific location.
These are only small caveats that you may come across as an owner of a dog implanted with a microchip. This disadvantage or inconvenience would only pale in comparison to the advantages offered by this modern technology. The hefty dog chipping price may turn off some owners but the ultimate assurance of knowing your dog’s location is a good return of investment.