The microchip is a tiny device (smaller than a grain of rice) that is usually inserted into the left side of the dog’s neck. Each microchip has a unique number that is recorded in a database along with the animal’s contact information (such as the owner’s name, home address, or phone number). In this way, by scanning the dog’s skin, veterinarians can discover if it has been lost or is stray.
Look for an identification tag on the dog’s collar
If you find a lost dog on the street and it is wearing a collar, see if it has an identification tag with a contact number on it. It is also possible that the tag specifies that the dog has a microchip in place.
If the dog does not have an identification tag on his collar, look directly at his collar. The owner may have engraved the word ‘microchip’ on the necklace to alert potential thieves that it has permanent identification.
Feel the microchip under your skin
If the furry does not have an identification tag, try gently feeling under its skin. The microchip is coated with a layer of methacrylate that is the size and shape of a grain of rice. In addition, it is usually injected under the skin of the neck (between the shoulder blades). Therefore, that is the place where you should feel it.
Run your fingertips over your shoulder blades and neck, applying gentle pressure to feel the microchip under your skin. However, the device may have shifted slightly over time. Therefore, if you do not find it the first time, you should feel between the shoulder and the head to make sure.
Go to the nearest vet
Even if you do not get to feel the microchip, it is better that you go to the vet to make sure. There, they will find out if you have a microchip and they will pass you a special reader to be able to read the data. Most vets have these types of scanners, and they read the data completely free of charge.
You could also call the police, as officers usually check to see if the dog has a chip to locate the owner.
