Dog Chip

Have you heard about the dog's chip? A tiny chip that has huge benefits for dogs! It can serve as a dog's identity marker and also prevent dogs from getting lost!

The dog's chip is about the size of a rice grain, very small, with a length of 0.8-0.9 centimeters, and a width slightly narrower than a rice grain. The chip contains a set of Arabic numeral codes, which can be displayed through a special scanner, just like a person's ID number.

In some advanced countries, such as the United States and Canada, although dog chip implantation is not practiced, you can often see a set of numbers on the upper part of the dog's right or left ear, known as the "ear number." When the dog is still a puppy, the ear number is tattooed on the inner side of the ear. This is another way to identify dogs and helps in locating lost dogs.

In some European countries, dog chip implantation has even been enshrined in law. For example, the UK recently introduced a new measure: starting April 6, all pet dogs must be microchipped for tracking purposes; owners who refuse will face a fine of up to 500 pounds. Statistics from the charity organization "Dogs Trust" show that in 2015, more than 47,000 pet dogs in the UK were abandoned or unclaimed. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs estimates that microchipping all pet dogs could save the government and charities at least 33 million pounds annually.

The chip implantation is quick and does not require surgery, anesthesia, or incisions. The chip is made like a "needle injection," only slightly thicker than an ordinary needle; it can be implanted in the dog with a simple injection and is not very troublesome.

The best place to implant the chip is on the dog's dorsal line — a straight line from the neck to the tail. The shoulder blade forms a horizontal line on both sides. The best implantation point is where these two lines intersect. This area has thicker skin, more subcutaneous tissue, causing less pain to the dog. It also makes scanning easier. First, disinfect the local skin with alcohol, then inject the chip into the dog’s body with the syringe; the process takes 3-4 seconds. After implantation, press a clean alcohol cotton ball for 20-30 seconds to prevent continued bleeding. After pressing, check if there is bleeding; if not, the implantation is complete.

Dogs must be implanted with chips at a formal veterinary hospital. Some owners choose to implant chips directly on the dog's neck, which is very dangerous because the neck is prone to inflammation and abscess. Therefore, it is important to choose the proper method and site for dog chip implantation.