What is microchipping and where can your pets get one?

Aside from getting your pets neutered and completing their vaccines, you might want to consider microchipping, another thing that can keep your furry friends safe and protected. 

According to Quezon City Veterinary Department Division Chief Dr. Rey del Napoles, a microchip is a small device that is implanted under a pet’s skin. It contains a serial number that gives it its own identity. 

“The microchip is a very small device. Kasing laki lang ng butil ng bigas na binabaon natin sa ilalim ng balat. Now, this has a serial number na pag-ini-scan natin, 'yun na 'yung identity ng alaga natin. Pag nakakagala yan, mahahanap natin sila. Maibabalik natin sa may-ari,” he said in a “24 Oras” report in the past. 

As Napoles said, microchipping can identify our pets — and their owners — should they get lost. Once a lost pet is found, veterinarians or pet rescuers can scan the pet's microchip to retrieve the pet owner's contact information. 

The QC Vet Office said owners who get their pets microchipped will be given a registration card, where information of both the owner and the pet are inputted. The registration card is issued by the pet service providers (which provides the microchip technology).

Here are some of the benefits of microchipping, according to the City’s Veterinarian Office of Davao City: 

• Pet’s permanent national identification by having a unique microchip number for every pet.
• Security and Protection
• Owner’s information is linked to pet identification registered to Petdentity’s system and mobile application, thus making it easy to identify and recover lost or stolen pets.
• Microchips cannot be damaged, stolen, changed, or altered in any way. National Pet Data Storage System is accessible by BAI.
• LGU and Veterinary Clinics can be used to monitor the vaccination of each pet.
• ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 11784/11785 and ICAR (International Committee for Animal Recording) Certified.
• Essential tool for pet travel.

Microchipping can be costly, especially if you have a lot of pets. 

Depending on the type of device used, microchips sold in private veterinary clinics can range from P750 to P1,500.

There are few local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila and outside the captical offering free pet microchipping to the public. This service usually comes with anti-rabies vaccination and sometimes neutering.

Quezon City, Pasig City, and Davao City are some of the few that are regularly providing pet microchipping services to its residents.

To learn more about their program, you can check out the Pasig City Veterinary Services Department, the Quezon City Veterinary Department, and the City Veterinarian's Office - Davao City’s Facebook pages for more information.