A lifetime of protection in one quick visit — walk-ins welcome. Every year, thousands of lost pets end up in shelters without any way to identify their families. Collars and tags can fall off or fade, but when you microchip dog or cat, you give them a permanent, reliable way to find their way home. At Alta Animal Hospital, we use ISO-standard microchips that can be scanned by any veterinarian, shelter, or rescue organization with a pet microchip scanner across North America. Each chip contains a unique ID number linked to your contact information in a secure national registry.
The procedure is fast, safe, and can be done during any routine visit — no anesthesia required. It’s a simple injection similar to a routine vaccine, placed just under the skin between the shoulder blades. Lifetime pet microchip registration is included, and we verify the chip is working before you leave. Many owners choose to have it done during their pet’s first wellness visit or at the time of spay or neuter surgery. For owners wondering how much does it cost to microchip a dog, the procedure is surprisingly affordable. Call (559) 298-6509 for current pricing.
After implantation, pet microchip registration is essential — the chip only works if your contact information is up to date. If you have moved or changed phone numbers, use a dog microchip lookup or pet microchip lookup service to update your records. Our team can help verify and update your registration during your visit.
If your pet is found, any veterinarian, shelter, or rescue organization can scan the chip and contact you immediately. This simple step dramatically increases your chances of being reunited.
Benefits of microchipping:
Microchipping is strongly recommended for all pets — but especially:
Even the most careful pet owners can experience an open door or a broken fence. A microchip ensures your pet always carries their ticket home.
A microchip only works if your contact information is current. Moving? New phone number? Make sure to update your registration with the microchip company. We’re happy to help you verify your pet’s chip and confirm your details are up to date.
The microchipping procedure at Alta Animal Hospital is very quick and causes only minimal, momentary discomfort — similar to what your pet feels during a routine vaccination. The microchip is injected using a slightly larger needle just under the skin between the shoulder blades. Most pets barely react, and no anesthesia or sedation is required. The entire process takes only a few seconds, and your pet can resume normal activity immediately afterward. If your pet is already being sedated for another procedure like a spay, neuter, or dental cleaning, we can implant the microchip at the same time for zero additional stress.
Microchipping at Alta Animal Hospital is very affordable and represents one of the best investments you can make in your pet’s safety. The fee includes the microchip implantation, the chip itself, and lifetime registration with a national pet recovery database. Many pet owners choose to combine microchipping with another service — such as a wellness exam, vaccinations, or spay/neuter surgery — for added convenience. Call (559) 298-6509 for exact pricing and to ask about any available bundled promotions.
No. A pet microchip is not a GPS tracking device. It is a passive identification chip that does not emit a signal or require a battery. Instead, it stores a unique identification number that can be read by a universal microchip scanner when a lost pet is found. When scanned, the ID number is used to look up your contact information in a national registration database, allowing the finder — whether it’s a veterinary clinic, animal shelter, or rescue organization — to contact you and reunite you with your pet. For real-time GPS tracking, a separate GPS collar device would be needed.
Yes, and this is critically important. A microchip is only as effective as the contact information linked to it. If you move to a new address, change your phone number, or change your emergency contact, you need to update your pet’s microchip registration with the chip manufacturer’s database immediately. At Alta Animal Hospital, we can help you verify which microchip company your pet is registered with and walk you through the update process during your visit. We recommend checking your registration annually — many pet owners do this at the same time as their pet’s annual wellness exam.
Puppies and kittens can be safely microchipped as early as eight weeks of age at Alta Animal Hospital. Many new pet owners choose to have the microchip implanted during their pet’s first wellness visit or first round of vaccinations. It’s also a popular add-on during spay or neuter surgery since the pet is already being seen. There is no upper age limit either — adult and senior pets who have never been chipped can be microchipped at any time during a regular visit.
When a lost pet is brought to a veterinary clinic, animal shelter, or rescue organization, one of the first things they do is scan the animal for a microchip using a universal scanner. If a chip is detected, the scanner displays the unique identification number. The staff then contacts the microchip registry, which provides your registered contact information so they can reach out to you directly. This process dramatically increases the chances of reunification — studies show that microchipped dogs are returned to their owners more than twice as often as those without chips. At Alta Animal Hospital, we always scan incoming strays and new patients for existing microchips.
