Microchips

The microchip industry for animals is in a bit of disarray. For one thing, the chips that are most commonly used in North America are not useful in Europe.  Secondly, the "readers" that most animal shelters and veterinary clinics use often will not read all types of chips.

So, what's the reco?  Currently, I only use a chip that is useful worldwide.  We have dogs that travel overseas for hunt tests, with military families, and just vacationers so we think it is important to have a "universal" chip installed.

Of course, the problem is with the readers.  Unless the person scanning the dog as a reader that will pick up all types of chips, this universal chip I recommend might be missed.  The good news is that all newer readers can, in fact, read any type of chip.

Also, it is crucial that an owner register the chip in the dog.  Just to install a chip and not register it with the company's database is useless.  Sure, someone will find the dog in rural Kansas and take it to a shelter or veterinary clinic and the chip will show up. But, if that number is not "registered", there will be no way to locate the owner.  Of course, the chip company can determine that the chip was sold to XYZ Veterinary Clinic in Tyler Texas and maybe the owner can be located using the clinic's records but that can be iffy.

And, remember, there is no substitute for a good collar with a legible nameplate on it to get your dog back. If Farmer Brown finds the dog, he won't know the dog is chipped but he can read that nameplate.

All my dogs are chipped, tattooed, and have a solid collar with two nameplates on them with complete contact information listed.