What percentage of pets have microchips?
On average, only 1.8 percent of all stray dogs and cats taken to participating shelters had microchips. Lord said that though good statistics do not exist, veterinary experts estimate that microchips are used in between 5 percent and 8 percent of animals in the United States – mostly dogs, cats and horses.
How effective are pet microchips?
In a study of animal shelters, only 22 percent of dogs without microchips were reunited with their owners, while 52 percent with microchips returned home. Cats without microchips had even lower return rates: just two percent made it home, compared with 39 percent of microchipped felines.
Do microchips harm animals?
Currently, cases of adverse reactions to microchips are only self-reported in the US. But using information reported in the UK, The AVMA says the risk to pets is very low and is far outweighed by the benefit of getting the pet back if lost. Therefore, the AVMA recommends microchips for safe permanent identification.
Are there any side effects to microchipping dogs?
Although side effects are uncommon, microchipping a dog can sometimes bring upon varied effects such as temporary bleeding, hair loss, infection, abscesses and microchip migration. But the vast majority of dogs experience minimal or zero side effects from the implantation process.
Can microchips make dogs sick?
How do microchips work if my pet gets lost?
Microchips carry only a unique identification number. If your pet gets lost and is taken to a vet clinic or animal shelter, your pet will be scanned for a microchip to reveal his unique ID number. That number will be called into the pet recovery service, and you will be contacted using the contact information on file with your pet’s microchip.
Do I need to Microchip my Pet more than once?
I need to microchip my pet more than once. A microchip will normally last the lifetime of your pet because it is composed of biocompatible materials that will not degenerate over time. The HomeAgain® standard size microchips have the Bio-Bond™ patented anti–migration feature to help ensure the chip stays where it’s implanted.
What percentage of stray dogs are found with microchips?
In our study 5 of 53 shelters who recorded information on animals entering a shelter with a microchip we found that: • 73% of owners of stray dogs and cats were found (74% for dogs and 63.5% for cats). • 74% of the owners actually wanted their animals back (76% for dogs and 61% for cats).
How many dogs and cats were implanted with microchips at each shelter?
In the shelter study, at each of the 6 shelters, 440 dogs and cats were implanted with a microchip and 220 animals were used as controls. Each of the 6 shelters tested a different microchip brand.
