Microchipping & Tattoos

Microchipping can be the difference between your pet making it back home or ending up in a shelter. Since there’s no way to anticipate your pet’s every move, microchipping ensures they have a permanent form of identification in case they ever get lost. To book your pet’s microchipping appointment, please contact us at 604-427-2744.

Is microchipping safe? 

Microchipping is a safe and effective way to provide your pet with permanent identification. The procedure is relatively painless and non-invasive. It doesn’t require surgery or anesthesia. We use a needle to inject the microchip under your pet’s skin, typically between their shoulder blades. Though we highly recommend collars and tags, the engraving can wear away with time. They can also fall off or be removed. When combined with microchips, they’re more effective. Once a microchip is implanted, your pet has it for their entire lifetime. It won’t need to be replaced and doesn’t require an external power source, so you won’t have to worry about replacing batteries. 

How does a microchip help my pet make it home? 

If your pet is recovered and brought to a shelter, humane society, or veterinary office, a microchip scanner can be used to detect the microchip. We typically know where to scan for microchips since most teams implant them in the same area. Microchips are about the size of a rice grain, transmitting radio frequencies that provide its serial number. With the serial number, we can reach out to the manufacturer that provides access to the pet recovery database, which includes your contact information.  

Is there an alternative to microchipping? 

We also offer tattooing for pets, providing another form of permanent identification. However, since tattoos can fade over time, it’s still recommended that your pet has another form of identification. Unlike microchips, your pet must be under general anesthesia to be tattooed. If your pet has an upcoming surgery, we can tattoo them during the same appointment. We’ll place a series of unique numbers and letters in their right ear, which can be traced back to our hospital.