Chip for a dog: when to chip and how much does it cost [Lek wet Katarzyna Hołownia
Chiping a dog is a safe and effective method of tagging your pet. It is not reserved only for purebred animals - I personally think that every guardian of a quadruped should decide to have his or her own dog chip.
Chip for the dog Contrary to popular opinion, a microtransponder placed under the skin does not show the current location of the pet (although such devices are also slowly coming into use). It is a passive device - after scanning with a suitable receiver, it displays a 15-digit identification code.
So why is it worth it chip your dog? How the whole procedure looks like? Is it worth registering an animal in the database?
I will try to explain the topic dog chips in the article below.
- What is a dog chip?
- The dog is chipped - and what's next?
- When should a dog / cat chip be done?
- Is it mandatory to chip a dog?
What is a dog chip?
What is a dog chip? Chip for the dog It is a several millimeter integrated circuit with a pre-programmed 15-digit code.
It cannot discharge or deactivate - it works for at least as long as it lives chipped dog or cat.
What's more, after your pet dies, the transponder may also be active.
Chipping consists in placing the device subcutaneously, in the form of injection with a thick needle. It is not a pleasant process, but most animals do not feel much discomfort, inserting the chip does not require the use of anesthetics - a simple needle prick, as with an injection.
Chip for the dog it is placed between the shoulder blades or on the left side of the neck.
The device has a coating that is neutral to the body's tissues - therefore it does not cause inflammation, itching, burning or other discomfort in the place where it is located. This coating also protects it against the action of enzymes contained in tissues and the body's reactions.
Chip at the dog you may feel a slight lump where it is located. It can move under the animal's skin, but it does not affect its functionality.
Chip on a dog can be performed in most clinics and veterinary offices in Poland. It is worth calling in advance and asking if there is such a possibility in the facility chosen by the guardian.
The price of a dog or cat chip is about PLN 100.
Chipping a cat Some cities and municipalities organize a chipboarding campaign in designated veterinary clinics or shelters for homeless animals - then the cost of the procedure is lower.
A chip is the best form of identification for a dog or cat.
Yes, a collar with a badge or a dog tag is definitely cheaper and is also useful, after all, not every person has a transponder reader with them during walks, but the collar can be removed and the tag can be lost.
As I mentioned, the chip works for at least as long as the animal is alive, it is unable to discharge or deactivate, and it is difficult to remove the chip without surgery.
The dog is chipped - and what's next?
Registration of the dog in the database The subcutaneous placement of the microtransponder does not do much - the dog has its own unique number, but it is necessary to register it in one of the databases.
There are at least a few such bases in Poland, the largest being safe-animal.eu.
However, it is worth placing your data and the dog's number in several databases so that in the event of a missing pet, the possibility of finding it is as high as possible.
Registration on the websites is free, and entering the guardian's data (for example, phone number, e-mail address) takes a short while.
Thanks to such information, if a dog is found, the guardian can be informed about this fact. The registration can be made by a guardian at home or by a veterinarian who performed the chip in the dog.
When should a dog / cat chip be done?
It is necessary to insert a chip when putting on a passport, if the dog has not been marked beforehand.
A dog, cat or ferret that has a passport must be an identifiable animal - a 15-digit, unique and unique code ensures that the animal can be recognized if necessary.
Tattoos in the groin or the ear are slowly moving away, inserting the chip under the skin is definitely less painful, more humane.
As the tattoo ages, the tattoo fades and can become hard to read. There is no such problem in the case of a dog or cat chip.
It is worth choosing a microtransponder when the dog has a tendency to run away and travel far - of course, then it is also necessary to register the animal's number in one of the databases so that if the dog is found, you can contact the guardian.
A chip placed under the skin in a dog is difficult to remove, which is also important in the case of theft or misappropriation of the animal - registering the number in the database will quickly identify the owner in disputed cases.
Is it mandatory to chip a dog?
Whether the treatment is mandatory? Unfortunately, there is no legal obligation to chip dogs in Poland.
It is different with purebred animals. The regulations for breeding purebred dogs, issued by the Kennel Club in Poland, clearly say that each litter should be marked by inserting a chip or tattooing the dog.
Considering the advantages of this simple procedure, it is worth opting for if the dog has not yet been chipped.
Statistics in Poland are worrying. Dog escapes, disappears and thefts happen every day.
Homeless animal shelters are overcrowded.
How many residents of such establishments had their houses, if they had been chipped before their escape? How many canine lives could be made happy if their keepers were found?
Chipping significantly reduces the likelihood of a dog missing. As I mentioned above, chipboarding is a safe, quick and simple procedure. It's really worth tagging your dog with a chip.
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