Microchipping

Pets keep us on our toes! They can be just as curious and adventurous as they are loving and loyal. Even the most faithful friend is curious and one day might wander out of the yard or through an open door.

The playful type may think it is a fun adventure to lead you on a wild chase around the neighborhood. It is a fact that pets can get separated from their families and lost. Sadly, there are many pets, especially cats that are never reunited with their families. That’s why we recommend that all pets be microchipped, to increase their chances of being reunited with their rightful owners.

Sun City Animal Hospital​​​​​​​ offers microchip implantation for all pets. This service is quick and virtually painless and takes just a minute or two. It can be done during your pet's annual wellness exam or while your puppy or kitten is being neutered.

Microchipping your pet gives them the best chance of being reunited with your family. It is standard practice in shelters, animal control facilities and veterinary centers to scan for a microchip when a pet is found. Collars and ID tags are important but can be lost while a microchip cannot. The microchip will speak for your pet and let caretakers know that your pet has a family that loves him and her and wants to be reunited.

• No anesthesia required

• Microchip is the size of a grain of sand

• Permanent – never wears out

• 50,000 scanners nationwide

• Over 2 million pets reunited with owners

Schedule an Appointment for Microchip

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment for microchip, contact Sun City Animal Hospital​​​​​​​ today. You can reach us at (803) 228-4020. We are serving Pineville, Matthews, Weddington, Marvin, Indian land, Fort Mill and Rock hill areas. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is happy to answer any questions you may have about microchipping or any of the other services we have to offer.

Microchipping FAQ

Each year, millions of dogs and cats are euthanized in animal shelters across the country. A large percentage of these animals are lost pets. Our veterinarian at Sun City Animal Hospital​​​​​​​ recommends microchipping pets for added assurance should they wander away from home and become lost.

What is a microchip?

About the size of a grain of rice, a microchip is a radio transmitter containing a unique identification number, which can be read by a special scanner.

How does the procedure work?

A fairly simple procedure, microchipping a pet is similar to an appointment for a vaccination. The microchips come pre-loaded in applicator needles. Our veterinarian gently inserts the needle into the skin between the pet's shoulder blades and releases the microchip inside the pet's fatty tissues, which will hold the chip in place. Pets experience little pain during this procedure. Local anesthesia can be administered, but it is not necessary.

Do microchips track my pet's location?

Microchips do not work like GPS devices. The microchip itself has no power source, and so cannot send signals to transmit a location.

How will a microchip help me find my lost pet?

If found by a shelter, animal hospital, or our veterinary clinic, your pet will be scanned for a microchip. When the microchip's unique identification number is picked up, our veterinarian will search a database of numbers to find the information which corresponds to your pet. Always keep your contact information up to date with the microchip database, so our veterinarian or the animal shelter will be able to contact you in the event your pet is found.

My pets all wear collars with tags, should I still have my pet microchipped?

Yes. Collars and tags often become lost when pets go missing. A microchip is permanent and will last your pet's lifetime. Our veterinarian also recommends microchipping indoor only pets, as they often do not regularly wear collars and tags. A microchip increases your chances of being reunited with your lost pet.

Will a microchip improve my pet's chances of returning home if lost?

Having your pet microchipped will drastically increase his or her chances of being returned home if lost. Microchipped dogs are 2 1/2 times more likely to be returned home safely than those without microchips, and microchipped cats are 20 times more likely to find their way back to their owners.

When should my pet get a microchip?

Your pet should get a microchip at his or her first (or next) visit to the veterinarian. Microchipping pets provides owners with peace of mind and gives pets an extra layer of protection against ending up in a shelter away from home.