How Much Does It Cost to Microchip a Dog or Cat?

Pets have an unfortunate tendency to become lost. Every year, around 10 million pets go missing in the United States, and an estimated 1 in 3 are reported missing in their lifetimes.¹ 

While microchipping your pet can’t guarantee they’ll be returned to you if they are stolen or get lost, it is a relatively easy and inexpensive way to make a happy reunion far more likely if they end up lost.¹ Find out more information about microchipping your pet, including how it works and how much it costs.

What Is a Pet Microchip?

A pet microchip is a tiny, injectable transponder, about the size of a grain of white rice. It emits a radio frequency that’s encoded with a radio frequency identification number — an RFID — that is specific to your pet.¹ 

A pet RFID chip does not contain your personal information. Instead, it’s encoded with an ID number that can be matched to your contact info via a pet microchip registry.¹ 

It’s up to you to provide the registry with a way to reach you and to keep that information up to date. According to a study by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), microchipped dogs are more than twice as likely as non-chipped dogs to be returned to their owners after being lost, and the chances are even higher for microchipped cats.²

A pet microchip is not a tracking device

It’s important to understand what a microchip doesn’t do. Your pet’s microchip is not a GPS location device, and it can’t be used to track your pet. It also doesn’t contain any data regarding either you or your pet’s health. Your contact information is not contained in the chip itself, which is why it’s important to register the chip ID number with a national database and link it to your contact information.²

Types of Microchips for Pets

Pet microchips are classified as either standard or non-standard, depending on frequency.²

• Standard pet microchips. These have a frequency of 134.2 kHz and can be read by forward-reading scanners.
• Non-standard pet microchips. These are chips with a frequency of either 125 kHz or 128 kHz. These chips can’t be read by forward-reading scanners and can only be read by universal scanners, also known as front-and-back-reading scanners.

While most veterinarians, animal shelters and pet rescue organizations use universal scanners to ensure they can detect both types of chips, having your pet chipped with a standard frequency chip will increase their likelihood of detection.³

How Much Does It Cost to Microchip a Dog or Cat?

In the U.S., the national average cost* to microchip your dog is $50, with prices across the country ranging from $25 to $100.⁴ For cats, the average cost* is $45, with a national range of $20 to $75.⁴

Your vet will likely also charge you for an office visit, so you may be able to save money by combining the microchip procedure with other services, such as vaccinations, a routine health checkup, spaying or neutering or a dental cleaning. 

Average cost to microchip dogs/cats by state/district

Here is the average cost* of microchipping dogs or cats for all 50 states and the District of Columbia:⁴

Does Pet Insurance Cover Microchips?

Some pet insurance providers cover the cost of microchipping your dog or cat, depending on the type of coverage. While some companies include microchipping in their standard accident and illness coverage, it’s also typical for microchips to instead be covered under add-on plans that cover routine health and wellness costs.⁵

Without pet insurance, the cost of microchipping your pet will range from $20 to $100, depending on your location and the type of pet.⁴

Pet Microchipping State Requirements

In 2021, Hawaii became the first state to make microchipping your pets mandatory. While no other states have statewide microchipping mandates in place, in some states, certain counties and municipalities require some pets to be microchipped. These states include:⁶

• California
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Texas

If you live in or plan to take your pets to one of these states, be sure to check the local laws regarding pet microchipping.

Additionally, if you’re planning a trip to Europe with your pet, you should be aware that the European Union requires traveling pets to be microchipped.⁷

Microchipping Procedure: How It Works

Microchipping requires no preparation — other than making and keeping the vet appointment to get it done — and there’s no recovery time needed.³ It’s a simple procedure that’s similar to giving a shot or drawing a blood sample, and is likely to hurt about as much (which, typically, isn’t much at all).

A vet uses a hypodermic needle to insert the microchip beneath the skin, usually between the shoulder blades.² Anesthesia is not necessary for a microchip implantation, but some pet parents like to combine it with other procedures, like spaying or neutering, so it can be done while their pet is asleep.²

After your pet is microchipped, you’ll need to register the chip with the manufacturer’s chip registry database, for which your vet should provide instructions. If your pet goes missing and is found by a vet clinic or an animal shelter, they’ll scan your pet to see if they’re chipped and search the databases for your pet’s ID number to look up your contact info.²

Registering Your Pet’s Microchip

Once your pet is microchipped, you’ll need to register the RFID number with a database such as the Free Pet Chip Registry™. Although that one is free, some registries charge an enrollment fee, and some also charge an annual subscription fee.³ The American Animal Hospital Association website offers a comprehensive list of pet microchip registries and pet recovery services.

As a pet parent, you’ll be responsible for keeping your contact information up to date with your pet microchip registry database. And because the chip can migrate to other parts of the body over time, it’s a good idea to have your vet scan for the chip at your pet’s annual checkup to make sure it’s where it should be and that it’s working properly.²

Pet Microchipping Side Effects

Microchipping is a very safe procedure, but it’s not completely without potential issues. As mentioned above, one common side effect is that the microchip could move from its implantation site, making it difficult for a scanner to detect. Other possible side effects include oozing, swelling or hair loss at the injection site. If you notice anything abnormal after microchipping your dog or cat, you should contact your vet. Most side effects occur due to improper implantation, so it’s important to have your vet do it rather than trying to do it yourself with an at-home kit.²

While tumors are an extremely rare reaction, they are possible. But according to the AVMA, a very small number of cancer cases have been associated with microchipping, and no direct link has ever been established.²

One other possible complication of microchip implantation is that the chip would fail to work properly. This is another reason it’s a good idea to have your vet scan the chip at your pet’s regular checkups.²

Where to Get Your Pet Microchipped

Any vet clinic or small animal hospital is likely to offer microchipping services. Your local animal shelter may also do it for a reduced price, and some pet adoption programs might also be able to microchip pets you obtain through them.²

Many animal shelters and pet rescue organizations will microchip pets before adopting them out, and sometimes they receive pets who are already chipped.² If you adopt a pet through a shelter, be sure to ask if your pet is microchipped, and if so, where they’re registered so you can update your pet’s emergency contact information in the database.

Alternatives to Microchipping Your Pet

If your dog or cat can’t be microchipped for some reason, such as a health condition that makes it medically unsafe, you should make sure your pet always wears a collar and identification tags with your contact information. Also, a wearable GPS tracking device can help you keep track of your pet and locate them quickly if they get separated from you.¹

The biggest drawback to collars and wearables, however, is that they can come loose and fall off, or they can be easily removed by a petnapper. Not only that, but GPS devices need charged batteries and a good cell signal in order to work, so these things aren’t really a substitute for a microchip that can never be lost or stop working. That said, using these methods alongside a microchip will increase the chances that your pet will be returned to you if they get lost.²

Microchip Your Pet for Peace of Mind

Microchipping improves the chances that you’ll find a pet that goes missing. Make an appointment with your vet to discuss your options. And if your pet already has a microchip, make sure to have it checked at their next appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have more questions about microchipping your pet? Find out more below.

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Author Bio

Jean Marie Bauhaus is a freelance writer and novelist who has been writing pet content since 2013. Her work has appeared on Forbes.com, Hill’s Pet, Chewy, AKC.org and more.