Lacey vet, veterinarian in Lacey, WA

What is a Microchip?

A microchip is a safe, simple and permanent form of pet identification to allow immediate identification of lost pets and quickly reunite them with their owners. There are several different types of microchips. At Hawks Prairie Veterinary Hospital we offer the Avid Microchip and the ISO Microchip. The microchip is injected under your pet's skin over the shoulders for dogs and cats and in the breast muscle for birds. Each chip contains a unique barcode (much like those seen on products in stores). The chip is gentle to the tissues, and does not cause a reaction to the body. When a scanner is passed over the pet, the bar code is read. The microchip company will supply information on the pet with that barcode, and this service is available nationwide, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The owner is responsible for keeping information current with the appropriate microchip company. All veterinary hospitals, shelters, and rescue groups have scanners, most of which scan all the major types of microchips.